Swedish vehicle maker Scania plan to produce solar panel trucks

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 Any time a new solar innovation is unveiled, or even hinted at, it is likely to catch our attention!


Given this fact, we had to put pen to paper - or should that be fingers to keys? - when it came to sharing the news of potential solar panel trucks making their way across Sweden, and in time, possibly the world!

The news came out recently that Swedish commercial vehicle manufactures Scania AB is going to be taking part in a joint research venture that will see them get to work on developing a solar panel-covered trailer that is designed to power a plug-in hybrid truck.

This upcoming project, which will involve the team at Scania joining forces with trucking company Ernst Express AB, is a definite step forward for solar development. The project will also receive input from thin-film solar tech developer Midsummer AB, electric utility Dalakraft AB and the Uppsala University.

Additionally the Swedish government’s innovation agency Vinnova will be putting its support towards the project by releasing public funding.


The current plan is that researchers will be fitting out an 18-metre trailer in solar panels, set out along its sides and roof. This is intended to produce an output of around 14,000 kWh per year, given the Swedish climate. Scania have suggested that this new venture could see fuel savings of 5%-10% in Sweden, as well as potentially twice as much were the project to be taken to southern Spain.

For their part in the project, Ernst Express will be using the truck in their daily assignments as part of the research process. This exciting new solar project will also be looking into whether a solar trailer can feed power to the grid at times when the truck’s batteries are fully-charged and the vehicle is stationary.

It remains to be seen how successful this project will be and how widely it will be adopted, but once again, we’re fully behind any idea that seeks to utilise solar in a new way for the benefit of the planet, so we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this one. 


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