While the green transition of passenger car transport has gained momentum in the recent years, the conversion of heavy road transport continues to lag behind.
Heavy transport is among the so-called hard-to-abate industries; i.e. a sector where technological development is still a long way from being able to offer commercially viable alternatives to fossil fuels.
This can be felt, among other things, at NorSea Denmark, where the ambition to be able to offer CO2-neutral, electric road transport in the heavyweight class continues to cause difficulties:
"It is still a significant technological challenge to move heavy goods over long distances," says Anders Aalund Olsen, Vice President Logistics & Energy Solutions at NorSea Denmark: "Battery and truck manufacturers have not yet cracked the code for batteries that have a lot of power over long distances time," he says.
Limited use
Despite this, NorSea Denmark has just invested in one of the first fully electric trucks on the Danish market; a Mercedes eActros LongHaul.
"The car manages up to 400 kilometers on the battery - on a good day. This means that it can be used at between 5 and 10 percent of our tasks," says Anders Aalund Olsen.
A trip from Skagen to Flensburg is 400 kilometers – half that if you want to be able to drive back on the same charge. There isn't much long-distance transport over that, but: It's a start, Anders Aalund Olsen points out:
"We are fully aware that the technology is at an early stage and that the infrastructure is being rolled out. But despite the limitation of 400 km, we can actually run part of our fixed, shorter routes on electricity, and I think we are obliged to do so," Anders Aalund Olsen says.
We have to push it ourselves
The electric truck speaks to NorSea Denmark's ambitions to be CO2-neutral in scope 1 and 2 by 2027 at the latest and in scope 3 by 2030 at the latest. Scope 1 concerns CO2 emissions from sources that NorSea itself controls. This means, for example, buildings and cars:
"Our goals are a few years into the future, but I believe that a difference must also be made in the short term. It is not ideal with a truck with a limited range, but without demand there is no development either. If we are to benefit from a fully rolled out infrastructure and technological innovation in 2027, it requires a demand today,” Anders Aalund Olsen says:
"We are obliged to push the development ourselves if we are serious about the green transition. You can't just sit and wait for it to happen," he emphasizes. NorSea Denmark experiences that customers are increasingly demanding climate-friendly solutions for transport and other services".
"Responsible consumption and CO2-neutral alternatives are of great importance today. Sustainability is a priority and we welcome that development,” Anders Aalund Olsen says:
"But sustainability must also apply to the business side. We won't win any contracts for being green if we are not also sharp on price and can arrive on time. Therefore, our investment in an electric truck is both a contribution to pushing development here and now and an investment in getting to know the market and practice in future electric transport," he says.
