Northvolt and Scania have unveiled a jointly developed battery cell for heavy electric vehicles. The lithium-ion cell was produced with fossil-free electricity in northern Sweden and has demonstrated an outstanding lifetime, resulting in the capacity to power trucks for 1.5 million kilometres, equivalent to the truck’s whole lifetime. This new battery cell has exceeded all premium requirements and is a significant milestone on the path towards a sustainable transport system.
In 2017, Northvolt and Scania joined forces to develop and commercialize a world-leading battery cell for heavy commercial vehicles. Now, the partnership and its close collaboration have come to fruition as the cell is being produced at Northvolt Ett gigafactory in northern Sweden. Scania will inaugurate a new battery factory in Södertälje, Sweden, later this year, where battery cells will be assembled into battery packs for the start of production of heavy-duty electric trucks.
Peter Carlsson, CEO, and Co-Founder of Northvolt said, “At the outset of this partnership, Northvolt and Scania agreed to an ambitious timeline for the development of a high-performance battery cell which would enable their plans for electrifying heavy transport. To have proceeded through extensive development and validation phases, and now be delivering cells from Northvolt Ett, which exceed our initial expectations in terms of performance, is a tremendous accomplishment for everyone involved.”
Scania’s CEO Christian Levin said, “Today marks a milestone on the path towards a sustainable transport system. The future of heavy transport is electric, and to enable the shift and to continue delivering on our brand promise towards customers to be premium, Scania needs top-performing battery cells for our electric trucks.”
The cell’s carbon footprint is approximately one-third that of a comparative industry reference due to Northvolt Ett’s commitment to establishing a supply of sustainable cells, powered by 100% fossil-free electricity generated by hydropower and wind power. The estimated carbon footprint of the cell at full serial production is approximately one-third that of a comparative industry reference cell.
This new battery cell’s specifications include a prismatic cell format, a capacity of 157 Ah, a nominal voltage of 3.6 V, and a lifetime of 1.5 million kilometres in heavy-duty commercial transportation.
Northvolt is a European supplier of sustainable, high-quality battery cells and systems, while Scania is a world-leading provider of transport solutions. The companies have come together to develop a battery cell that will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of heavy commercial transportation.
In conclusion, the joint venture of Northvolt and Scania has yielded an innovative, high-performance, and sustainable battery cell that will revolutionize the heavy commercial transportation sector. This milestone marks a significant step towards a greener future and showcases the potential of sustainable technology. With the global focus shifting towards reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable practices, Northvolt and Scania’s partnership is setting the stage for a more sustainable future for everyone.
