SWEDEN (News release) -- SCA and Scania are together developing the first electric timber truck with a technical capability of up to 80 tonnes total weight.

It is possible to drive longer distances with heavy electric transports. The electric truck will transport timber in the Swedish region of Västerbotten, between SCA's terminal in Gimonäs and its papermill in Obbola outside Umeå, starting already in 2022.

For SCA, which is Europe's largest private forest owner and maker of sawn wood products, packaging materials and pulp, electrifying road transport is an important part of work to reduce its environmental impact. Ever year, SCA transports about 8.5 million cubic metres of wood to industries, utilising 265 timber trucks in collaboration with 87 haulage contractors.

"The cooperation with Scania is an important way for us to jointly find innovative solutions for sustainable transport. Electric timber trucks will be a strong contribution to SCA's work with sustainability, where we are part of the solution for a fossil-free world. By running just one electric truck between Gimonäs and Obbola, we can reduce our carbon emissions by about 55,000 kg per year," says Hans Djurberg, Head of Sustainability, SCA.

The vehicle solution that Scania is developing, in close collaboration with SCA and research institute Skogforsk, is a part of the shift towards sustainable transport, which Scania has long advocated for, not least together with progressive customers.

At Scania, future solutions are simulated together with different partners and through deep analysis. When it comes to SCA, Scania is developing a vehicle that is optimised for SCA's specific transport assignments.