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Scania has handed over the first of three hybrid trucks to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) as part of a project aimed at evaluating the potential of electrified powertrains in military operations.
The three vehicles will be assessed by the Swedish Armed Forces across all three service branches.
The trial will look at how hybrid technology can support military requirements, including fuel-efficient operation, silent mobility and on-site power generation.
The first vehicle was unveiled at the Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris this week.
Scania said the trucks will enable armed forces personnel to explore the benefits of electrified drivetrains in defence applications. These include the ability to move silently using electric propulsion and to provide power to external equipment such as command posts, sensor systems and temporary camps.
Scania dded that, while FMV and the armed forces will use the trucks to evaluate the technology in operational settings, the programme will provide valuable knowledge to support the development of scalable hybrid solutions for defence customers.
The vehicles use a plug-in parallel hybrid powertrain, allowing the combustion engine and electric motor to operate independently or together.
According to Scania, this provides flexibility across a range of missions and operating environments.
The electric motor delivers instant torque and improved low-speed manoeuvrability, while also enabling silent operation for limited periods.
The truck has an electric range of approximately 70-80km, depending on load, usage and operating conditions.
The hybrid system incorporates a 208kWh battery pack. At around 75% state of charge, approximately 156kWh of energy is available.
Scania said the vehicle can provide around four hours of continuous AC power to external equipment and can recharge from 0% to 100% using the combustion engine in approximately 45-60 minutes while idling.
The truck can supply both 400V and 230V AC power through onboard outlets, reducing reliance on conventional diesel generators.
Scania said the battery-powered solution can provide electricity completely silently, helping to reduce acoustic signatures and the risk of detection during operations.
Stefano Fedel, head of Scania Commercial, said: “The defence sector is facing changing requirements, where power supply, mobility and flexibility are becoming increasingly important.
“Through this cooperation with FMV, we can develop and evaluate hybrid technology under real conditions, while also demonstrating how Scania’s industrial capability can contribute to future defence solutions.”
Scania is also investigating how production of hybrid defence vehicles could be industrialised and incorporated into its modular vehicle system, allowing the technology to be adapted to different vehicle configurations and mission requirements.
Fedel added: “We see clear potential for hybrid solutions in heavy military vehicles.
“It is about combining robustness and mobility with new opportunities for power supply and quieter operation. For Scania, this is an important step in the development of future defence solutions.”
