New study to explore solar- powered electric trucks

Can solar panels on heavy-duty trucks reduce charging needs and support more sustainable freight transport? A new VTI-led pilot study, in collaboration with Uppsala University and industry partners, aims to find out.

The transport sector accounts for a significant share of Sweden’s climate emissions, and electrification is a key strategy to achieve fossil-free transport. However, electric trucks have high energy demands and rely heavily on charging infrastructure, which puts pressure on the power grid. One way to reduce this dependency is to enable vehicles to generate part of their own energy.

The project “Energy Autonomous Vehicles – A solar cell full-equipped electric truck in real operations” has now been granted funding by the Swedish Energy Agency. The feasibility study will run throughout 2026 and examine the technical viability of integrating solar panels into heavy-duty trucks. The goal is to develop a project plan for a full-scale demonstrator for which an application is scheduled for autumn 2026.

“We want to understand how much energy solar panels can realistically contribute under Swedish and European conditions, and how this affects vehicle operation and charging needs,” says project leader Harrison John Bhatti at VTI.

The study will analyse suitable transport assignments, evaluate different vehicle configurations, and investigate complementary charging technologies. It will also quantify the solar contribution to energy supply and assess how this can reduce strain on the power grid. The work is conducted in close collaboration with Traton/Scania, Ernst Express, and Uppsala University.

“Solar-equipped trucks could offer advantages in regions with limited grid capacity and where charging infrastructure is still being developed,” Bhatti adds. “It is a promising approach to strengthen energy resilience and reduce climate impact.”

The feasibility study is part of the FFI Zero Emission programme and is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency with approximately SEK 500,000. The results will form the basis for an application for a demonstrator project that will provide practical experience of solar integration in heavy-duty transport.