Scania and ABB E-mobility’s new system is being successfully tested before it makes waves as the key piece in Australia’s zero-emissions bus and coach puzzle
A new venture between vehicle brand Scania and ABB E-mobility is resulting in a megawatt charging system that could pave the way for longer distance zero-emissions bus and coach travel in Australia.
Scania has successfully installed and tested a pilot megawatt charging system from ABB E-mobility, representing the next milestone in the development of an efficient, high-power charging solution for heavy-duty vehicles. Scania says the technology will enable charging times to be halved for heavy-duty trucks and buses.
“This could be a significant step towards the realisation of longer distance battery powered coach and bus travel which would be ideal for Australian conditions,” Scania Bus and Power Solutions director of sales Julian Gurney says.
“At present, the Australian landscape does not permit the use of zero-emission buses and coaches for long-distance running due to the limited range of the batteries and more specifically, the time taken to recharge.
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“But as battery cell technology improves range and Megawatt charging systems are developed and initiated, this represents a huge opportunity for deploying our battery electric buses and coaches over distances that are more in line with school and charter bus operators in our regional and extra urban areas.”
Gurney says this new system could be ideal for tourism operators by giving them an extra advantage through appealing to inbound tourists visiting Australia in the comfort of zero-emissions vehicles.
“We welcome the news of the successful testing of this system by ABB and Scania in Europe and look forward to the implementation stage of this technology in Australia which could literally open the door to unimpeded zero-emission bus and coach travel for a much larger scope in application and appeal to a wider group of the travelling public,” Gurney says.
“Furthermore, with zero emission bus transport growing in scope, we could conceivably reduce the numbers of cars on the roads, as travellers switch to BEV buses, which additionally enjoy the bonus of being near silent in operation, providing and even more comfortable and appealing journey options.
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| Scania’s Julian Gurney |
“Scania and ABB’s Megawatt charging trials bode well for the introduction of battery electric long distance coach travel – further cementing Scania’s push to be the leader in sustainable transport solution in Australia.”
Both Scania and ABB are committed to enabling a zero-emission transport future and taking the lead in developing tomorrow’s technology today. Developing a solution to fast charge these commercial electric vehicles, which will also deliver significant range, is a major step towards increasing sales of heavy-duty vehicles that can be driven fossil-free.
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The initial testing, to prove the technical viability of high current charging, is a first important step towards the future MCS system from ABB E-mobility. This will result in the progressive deployment of high-power chargers, starting from 1,500 Ampere and eventually extending to the full MCS scope of up to 3,000 Ampere.
This is a charging standard that Scania and ABB E-mobility have both invested in and have been instrumental in developing in collaboration with CharIN (the MCS standard is expected in 2024).
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| The Scania Touring is one of many Scania options that will benefit from the technology |
MCS technology is critical for Scania’s long-haul electric trucks, where both driving time and resting time are regulated by law. The vehicle can be driven for a maximum of 4.5 hours before the driver needs to take a 45-minute break and during this time the truck needs to charge enough power to operate another 4.5 hours. Due to the size of the batteries, both fast and high-power charging is essential.
“We see momentum for electric transport and our goal is that 50 per cent of all vehicles we sell annually by 2030 are electric. To achieve this goal will require infrastructure and MCS is a crucial piece of the puzzle for the infrastructure going forward,” Scania head of E-mobility Fredrik Allard says.
ABB E-mobility is at the forefront of delivering the reliable charging infrastructure and robust service capabilities which fleets require in order to successfully transition to electric.
ABB E-mobility global head of fleet transit Chris Nordh says: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Scania on this milestone pilot, which will set a precedent for the sector and identifies one of the ways we collaboratively approach OEM charging partnerships, effectively verticalizing the technology stack to create great end-user experiences.
“Today is an exciting day and we look forward to many more milestones to come as we further develop a quality, reliable, and seamless charging experience for fleets.”
From now, Scania can offer trucks with the MCS pre-standard connector to customers with specific and pronounced needs, with production set to begin in 2024. ABB E-mobility will introduce the next iteration of its MCS technology in late 2024/ early 2025.