Scania, Unicon, and Liebherr-Mischtechnik have deployed a fully electric concrete transport solution in daily operations, replacing diesel-powered trucks with a zero-emission alternative for one of construction’s most energy-intensive segments.
Overview
The system combines a battery-electric Scania truck with an integrated electric concrete mixer. A 400 kWh battery pack powers both the drivetrain and the mixer drum via an electric power take-off (ePTO), eliminating tailpipe emissions in urban and off-road construction sites. The vehicle is designed for real-world use, including continuous mixing and off-road driving, with an operational range of approximately 200 km per charge.
Technical setup
- Vehicle: Scania battery-electric truck platform, up to 400 kWh installed capacity.
- Mixer: Liebherr-Mischtechnik electric drum system, powered directly from the truck’s battery.
- ePTO: Fully integrated electric power take-off replaces hydraulic systems.
- Optimisation: Route simulations and energy modelling ensure efficiency for typical concrete distribution cycles.
Deployment and scale
Unicon, Denmark’s largest ready-mix concrete supplier, has integrated the first vehicle into daily operations. Ten additional electric trucks are on order, with Unicon targeting a significantly larger electric fleet by 2027 and full zero-emission concrete transport by 2035. The solution is not a pilot but a production-ready system designed for scalability.
Tradeoffs
- Range: 200 km per charge is sufficient for urban and regional routes but may require mid-shift charging for longer hauls.
- Weight: Battery capacity and mixer integration add mass, though Scania’s modular platform is designed to accommodate heavy-duty applications.
- Infrastructure: Charging stations must be available at concrete plants and construction sites.
Bottom line
The project demonstrates that even high-energy, variable-demand transport segments like concrete delivery can be electrified without compromising operational performance. By combining vehicle electrification with application-specific engineering, the partners have created a template for decarbonising construction logistics at scale.