Automotive industry – heavy transport

Emissions from heavy transport (more than 3.5 tonnes) accounts for about a third of the climate emissions of road traffic. In total, this means that lorries and buses account for about 6.5 percent of Swedish climate emissions. The Riksdag has decided that CO₂ emissions from domestic transport will be reduced by at least 70 percent by 2030 compared with 2010.

Targets in roadmap

2030*: 50% of new registrations of heavy goods vehicles are electric vehicles
2045: Vehicle fleet entirely fossil free

*The target was updated in 2021 to “50% a few years before 2030” as progress is faster than anticipated.

To implement the roadmap, the industry is working on:

• greater transport efficiency, i.e. more efficient vehicles and more efficient use of vehicles.
• higher proportion of biofuels, both low and high blends.
• electrification of the vehicle fleet, mainly including batteries but also fuel cells run on hydrogen.

The industry organisation Mobility Sweden (formerly known as BIL Sweden) is responsible for the process of implementing the roadmap, which includes a low and a high scenario for the proportion of electric lorries. The scenarios are based on the plans and strategies of manufacturers plus the EU’s criteria for vehicles. Mobility Sweden is working to achieve the high scenario, under which 50 percent of newly registered lorries over 16 tonnes will be powered by electricity in 2030.

Progress since the roadmap was launched

Electric buses and electric lorries are here!

The electrification of buses and lorries has soared in the past year. Electric buses were rapidly introduced in bus traffic. Just over 600 electric buses are currently on Sweden’s roads. In autumn 2020, electric lorries were launched, which are now starting to be seen in the registration statistics. As at September 2021, 31 electric lorries, over 16 tonnes, have been registered.

Expansion of charging infrastructure

The Government and the supporting parties are budgeting just over SEK 1 billion in 2021 and 2022 to expand the charging infrastructure for heavy transport. The vehicle manufacturers highlight good access to charging infrastructure as the single most important success factor if electric vehicles are to break through on a broad front.

Increased research into electromobility

Within the remit of FFI, a partnership programme between the Government and the Swedish automotive industry, several major strategic projects have been launched to develop and demonstrate heavy transport solutions that lead to climate improvements. One example is the pilot project in which Volvo Lastvagnar and DHL are testing completely electric transport up to 60 tonnes in daily scheduled traffic between Jönköping and Gothenburg. Another project on electric transport in urban environments is being headed by Scania.

Industry challenges