- Kalmar and Elonroad are testing a 200-meter electric road in Sweden to charge heavy vehicles both while driving and stationary.
- The system offers 97% efficiency, reduces battery sizes by up to 80%, and is cheaper than inductive charging.
- Initial trials will retrofit Kalmar vehicles, with real-world port testing planned next.
Kalmar and Elonroad conduct embedded rail charging solution in Sweden
Kalmar, a Finnish manufacturer of industrial trucks, is teaming up with Swedish startup Elonroad. The collaboration will test a groundbreaking solution for charging heavy vehicles while they drive. HGVs must electrify to drive the transition beyond passenger cars, a vital step for our emissions targets. This technology could facilitate the easiest rides of HGV drivers’ lives, while eliminating battery weight from these already enormous vehicles.
The project will involve building a 200-meter-long electric road at Kalmar’s Innovation Centre in Ljungby, Sweden. Special rails will be embedded in the ground to enable vehicles to charge dynamically. So yes, it’s essentially a scaled-up Scalextric track.
It means vehicles can charge their batteries while moving or standing still. If successful, it could significantly reduce the size of onboard batteries by up to 80%. Smaller batteries mean lighter vehicles and lower costs.
Elonroad’s conductive charging technology uses a current collector on the vehicle. It connects to the charging rails on the road. This method is highly efficient, achieving 97% energy transfer, according to the company. It also costs less to install than inductive charging systems, which lose up to 30% of energy as heat.
Kalmar will first test the technology on two vehicles: a reachstacker and a terminal tractor. Later, the system will be trialled in a real-world port environment with customers. This project, supported by the Swedish Energy Agency, provides a glimpse into the future of industrial and port operations.
Elonroad CEO Karin Ebbinghaus commented:
“At the heart of this project is an innovative solution that combines Elonroad’s technology for automatic charging with Kalmar’s expertise in port and terminals, distribution centres and industrial applications. By collaborating with Kalmar, we hope to contribute to solutions that are not only better for the environment, but also improve efficiency and reduce costs worldwide. This is the future of industrial infrastructure – smart, sustainable and economically viable.”
If successful, the technology will make industrial operations more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective worldwide. We’re excited to see how this technology could change the freight game, especially when combined with the incoming autonomous innovations across the industry.
