Chemicals supplier Wibax has focused on sustainability issues since it was established. Now the company is taking it up a notch. In collaboration with Scania, it is launching a world first, an electric ADR-approved truck that can haul 64 tonnes, a new record for electric trucks.
It’s not just in big cities that electric vehicles are taking off. Piteå-based Wibax transports bulk goods in the countryside and has striven to be at the forefront of sustainability ever since it was founded in 1986. The company’s ambition is to be a sustainable chemicals supplier that takes both people and the environment into consideration. With this new innovation – electric trucks capable of transporting up to 64 tonnes – the company is moving to the next level.
“We have identified transport as having the biggest climate impact in our operations, so we have to deal with this. However, when vehicles weigh as much as ours do, it starts to get complicated with electric power,” says Jonas Wiklund, CEO at Wibax.
Together with Scania, Wibax has been working for a long time to find a solution, and the truck that will soon enter service is the first of several vehicles and is important for us to achieve our climate goals.
“This vehicle alone will enable us to reduce our carbon footprint by up to 1,370 tonnes of CO2, doing so with a vehicle that offers full towing capacity. In other words, this is a real game changer,” says Wiklund.
The close collaboration between Scania and Wibax has made this e-transport solution possible.
“This is the first electric 64-tonner to enter service with a customer. Step by step, we are showing that electric solutions are happening very quickly and virtually across all segments,” says Fredrik Allard, Head of E-mobility at Scania.
Skellefteå Kraft has calculated the type of charging equipment required for this initiative and is supplying the charging station.
“The vehicles that will be electrified last are the longer haul ones, where range is the issue. Electrification means that we have to optimise transport based on parameters that are different from those used today,” says Magnus Sundström, CEO at Wibax Logistics.
“Electricity supply is a hotly debated issue today, and for electrification to have its full impact, the entire electrical system must be strengthened. For us, this is a long-term strategic investment and we have confidence that those who are capable electricity suppliers will ensure that we have a sustainable and strong electricity system. At the moment, it feels natural to start in northern Sweden, where we already have a stable grid with sustainably produced electricity,” says Wiklund.
Wibax aims to be a leader in the transition to fossil-free transport. This is why they are delighted to be one of the first companies to make this change to their fleet. The close collaboration with Scania makes the transition possible.
“It is important for us to be at the forefront of sustainability issues. The bottom line is that it should not just look good on paper, but mean something in reality. Lighter electric trucks have been on the market for a while, but for us it has not really been sustainable until now when we can electrify the haulage of 64-tonne loads. Our core value is “good chemistry” and this initiative keeps in step with this principle. These issues have been discussed for ages, but now we are also noticing that market demand for more sustainable transport solutions is increasing, so things are really starting to happen,” says Wiklund.
“I also believe that the fossil-free transition will become an increasingly important issue when it comes to attracting workers in the future,” concludes Wiklund.
