Scania unveils NXT concept

Scania has revealed its latest concept vehicle, with the battery-electric-powered and self-driving NXT also featuring a modular design that can see it applied to multiple roles.

Recently unveiled at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Stockholm, Sweden, on June 10, the Scania NXT platform can be pressed into three different roles, serving as a bus to ferry commuters to and from work during peak hours, a truck to deliver goods through the day, and a refuse vehicle that collects waste at night.

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According to Scania President and CEO, Henrik Henriksson, the concept addresses society's rapidly evolving transport needs on multiple fronts.

"NXT is a vision of the future for transport in cities," he said.

"Several of these technologies have yet to fully mature but for us it's been important to actually build a concept vehicle to visibly and technically demonstrate ideas of what is within reach.

"NXT is designed for 2030 and beyond while incorporating several cutting-edge features that are already available."

The NXT's front and rear drive modules can be fitted to a bus body, a distribution truck body or a refuse collector, with the platform unveiled in Sweden recently in bus form (pictured).

Scania says transport infrastructure needs further development to fully embrace both electric and autonomous vehicles, while also coordinating the flow of people and goods around the clock.

"We at Scania can't redraw the entire transport system for cities," said Henriksson.

"What we can do is inspire change and that is the idea behind NXT – to think about transport and vehicles in a different and sustainable way."

Scania says a higher degree of vehicle automation will lead to greater flexibility in public transport.

The NXT's modular design is in step with Scania's philosophy, said the concept's project manager, Robert Sjödin

"This is something new, something very different," he said.

"Yet flexible design and modularised units lie very much at the core of Scania."

Measuring 8m long, the bus module is one composite unit, delivering substantial weight savings. Its batteries are placed under the floor, utilising otherwise dead space and reducing the vehicle's centre of gravity, while the vehicle weighs in at under eight tonnes, giving it a range with today's batteries of around 245km.

"Continuous improvement in small steps has been the hallmark of Scania," says Sjödin.

"We are now taking a giant leap into the future. This vehicle will provide invaluable tangible data in our continued development of electrified autonomous vehicles."