Scania New Zealand is introducing the brand’s first fully electric truck to the local market, one of the first markets outside of Europe to receive this model.

Two, first generation, 29 (GCVW) tonne battery electric vehicles have landed at Scania NZ headquarters in Auckland, each with a range of up to 250 km, making them suitable for either short or medium haul journeys.

Additionally, the trucks include optional emission free operation for both hydraulic and refrigeration units.

There is no doubt that the launch of the BEV trucks marks a significant change in the heavy commercial landscape in this country, but Scania’s game-changing trucks may well be the catalyst to increase EV uptake in more general terms.

Scania’s new release is a validation of the practical advantages and beneficial applications of electric vehicles in general.
Scania New Zealand Managing Director Rafael Alvarenga says bringing in these fully electric trucks is not a one-off,
instead they represent a genuine factory-led solution to sustainable transport in Aotearoa by Europe’s premier truck manufacturer.  

An electric truck enables the customer to stay ahead of the competition, learn about infrastructural challenges and start adapting for the future,” says Alvarenga.

The battery electric vehicles are available with the option of either five or nine batteries – totalling 165 kWh or 300 kWh installed capacity respectively.

The new electric motor delivers a continuous power of 230 kW or approximately 310 hp. The motor has two gears providing high power over a wider speed span.

“Scania’s global aim is to drive the shift towards a sustainable transport solution, creating a world of mobility that is better for business, society and the environment. This is also our aim locally in New Zealand,” says Alvarenga.

“By 2025, Scania has a global goal to achieve a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions of its produced vehicles; compared to 2015, so by that date electrified vehicles will account for 10 percent of its total sales volumes worldwide, increasing to 50 percent by 2030.”