Scania, the commercial vehicle powerhouse, has forged a partnership with digital road freight leader sennder to form JUNA, an innovative joint venture poised to revolutionize the adoption of electric trucks across Europe. This strategic move aims to accelerate the shift towards a greener road logistics sector by offering a comprehensive service suite encompassing state-of-the-art electric vehicles, maintenance, insurance, and a suite of digital and analytics tools.
The essence of JUNA’s business approach lies in mitigating the typical challenges associated with transitioning to electric vehicles in freight operations. Through a model that bases fees on usage and assures vehicle utilization, coupled with data-driven strategies to optimize electrification and assess route compatibility for electric trucks, JUNA is at the vanguard of enhancing operational efficiency and reducing risk for freight carriers.
A landmark pilot project under JUNA’s umbrella showcases the venture’s capability, where an electric truck, powered by renewable energy, competes with diesel-run vehicles by managing up to ten lanes weekly for a major FMCG shipper near Stuttgart. This initiative alone is projected to slash 93 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year for every truck involved, with ambitions to extend these eco-friendly routes to greater distances by 2024. The pilot leverages the existing charging infrastructure while keeping running costs competitive with traditional diesel expenses.
David Nothacker, CEO of sennder, accentuates the sector’s transformative phase and the significance of this collaboration. With electric trucks often costing significantly more than diesel variants and the majority of Europe’s trucks owned by small-scale operators, JUNA’s innovative pay-per-use system, combined with sennder’s strategic capacity management, is set to dismantle the financial barriers that have long hindered the switch to electric trucks.
Gustaf Sundell, leading Scania’s Ventures and New Business, relays his enthusiasm about the initiative that merges Scania’s expertise in electric vehicles with sennder’s digital logistics intelligence. This venture, born out of shared values and foresight, is destined to be a cornerstone in promoting sustainable practices within the transport arena.
Following the official signing of the joint venture in May and subsequent regulatory approvals, JUNA is strategically positioned to catalyze a significant transformation toward environmentally friendly transportation, marking a pivotal leap forward for sustainable logistics.
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