Scania R 770 Brings Smooth Efficiency To High-Capacity 12-Axle Truck & Trailer Combination
A Scania R 770 in Sweden has brought more power and fuel economy to the longest and heaviest truck-and-trailer combination currently making regular deliveries in a European nation. The 8x4 rigid, powered by a V-8 engine burning hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) instead of fossil fuels, is pulling dual trailers in a 34-metre (112-foot)-long train with a total gross weight of 98 tonnes (108 U.S. tons). The Scania-powered combo, which is hauling wood chips and shavings from a train terminal to a power plant in Södertälje, is vastly more efficient than the 24-m (79-ft), 60-t (66-U.S.-t), seven-axle truck and trailer tasked with making the run a decade ago.
“Going from 60 tonnes to 98 we increased capacity 70%—and fossil-free at that,” says Olle Ankarling, logistics manager at Stockholm region energy supplier Söderenergi. “Next step is to become emission-free with electric trucks. Negotiations with authorities and partners have already been initiated.”
Stretching The Limits
Söderenergi, transport company Foria, and Scania banded together in 2013 to develop a more efficient transport solution—i.e., one that could haul more wood waste with lower carbon dioxide emissions. Swedish road authorities allowed up to 60 t on public motorways at the time, so the first step was to get a dispensation from the regulations for a heavier tractor-trailer combo.
In 2014, the group began to road-test a slightly longer 25.25-m (82.8-ft) combination with nine axles and a 74-t (81.6-U.S.-t) total gross weight. A Scania R 730 tractor, initially running on fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and later on HVO, reduced fuel consumption over the previous truck by 10%. Another upgrade in 2020 used a link, a dolly, and a second trailer to boost capacity even further. The 34-m combination spread its 98-t (108-U.S.-t) weight over 12 axles. And now, the new Scania R 770 truck brings even more power and fuel economy to the equation.
“The new truck runs ridiculously smooth! I am not easily impressed, but this time the engineers at Scania deserves a real pat on the shoulder,” says truck owner and Foria subcontractor Owe Lindkvist. “It is so powerful, more stable with better traction, and the drivability is amazing.”
“The 98-tonner has performed flawlessly in traffic, which is crucial,” says Henrik von Hofsten, a researcher at Swedish forestry research body Skogforsk. “Taking all into account, we still see better numbers with the 770 than the 730, both in performance and fuel consumption.”
The Scania R 770
The Scania R 770 has a 770-horsepower (574-kilowatt), 16-litre V-8 engine with 3,700 newton-metres (2,729 pounds-foot) of torque. It meets Euro 6 emissions standards using selective catalytic reduction (SCR), and it can run on diesel and up to 100% HVO fuel. Eight-speed range and 12-speed range split gearboxes are available with optional PTO, Scania Retarder, and Opticruise features.
The R Series is available in 4x2 to 6x6 tractor and 4x2 to 10x4*6 rigid configurations. R 770 models offer cabin options of two day cabs and three sleepers of varying heights.
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Source: Scania