‘Electric highway’ launches in Sweden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqYJEXHEgXk

Sweden has opened a section of road that allows trucks to run on electricity direct from the grid.

North of Stockholm, the two-kilometre section of highway has overhead wires which hybrid trucks can connect to – in a similar way to a trolley bus.

While on the section, the trucks run on electricity only.

It is designed to automatically connect while the truck runs at the speed of 90 kilometres per hour. Once the vehicle reaches the end of the test highway, it returns to diesel-electric mode.

According to website Trafikverket, the Swedish Transport Administration, this project is one of the first tests of electric power for heavy transport vehicles to be conducted on a public road.

The test runs on Highway E16 in Sandviken.

The project is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Energy Agency and a government agency that funds research and innovation called Vinnova.