Two sustainable technology companies collaborate to develop a high-lifespan battery for heavy-duty electric vehicles that can power a vehicle for over 1.5 million km.
The battery co-developed by Scania and Northvolt has a long lifespan. (Image: Scania)
The new lithium-ion battery design is produced using non-fossil energy in northern Sweden, with carbon emissions only one-third of those of similar products. The specifications of the battery include thin rectangular cells, a capacity of 157 amp-hours, and a nominal voltage of 3.6 V. The battery’s lifespan exceeds 1.5 million km for heavy-duty electric vehicles, making it one of the most durable batteries in the industry, as reported by Interesting Engineering on April 24. Typically, the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries is 8 years or 100,000 miles (approximately 160,000 km), but this can vary depending on the manufacturer and environmental conditions.
Scania and Northvolt began their collaboration in 2017 to develop and commercialize batteries for heavy-duty electric commercial vehicles. The partnership has achieved results that far exceed initial performance expectations. The battery is being manufactured at Northvolt’s Ett facility in northern Sweden, and Scania will inaugurate a new battery factory in Södertälje later this year. There, the batteries will be fully assembled to begin production of heavy-duty electric trucks.
According to Peter Carlsson, co-founder and CEO of Northvolt, the collaborative project to develop high-performance batteries enables Scania to plan the electrification of trucks. Christian Levin, CEO of Scania, also shared that this type of battery is essential for transitioning to sustainable transportation.
Northvolt Ett is a battery manufacturing facility that operates entirely on non-fossil energy from hydropower and wind power. By utilizing non-fossil energy and integrating sustainable production at Northvolt Ett, the carbon emissions of the battery are significantly lower than industry standards. Scania and Northvolt demonstrate that close and innovative collaboration can turn sustainable transportation solutions into reality.
