Sweden has opened the world’s first eHighway on a public road, and over the next two years, a Siemens catenary system for trucks will be tested on a 2km stretch of the E16 highway, north of Stockholm.

This trial will see use of two diesel hybrid vehicles manufactured by Scania and adapted to operate under the catenary system.

Siemens Mobility Division chief engineer Roland Edel said: "The Siemens eHighway is twice as efficient as conventional internal combustion engines. The Siemens innovation supplies trucks with power from an overhead contact line. This means that not only is energy consumption cut by half, but local air pollution is reduced too."

"An intelligent pantograph combined with a hybrid drive system forms part of the core part of the system."

During the trial period, Sweden’s Transport Administration (Trafikverket) and Gävleborg County intend to create a knowledge base on whether the Siemens eHighway system can be used commercially for long-term and if there is scope for further deployment.

Swedish Transport Administration chief strategist Anders Berndtsson said: "By far the greatest part of the goods transported in Sweden goes on the road, but only a limited part of the goods can be moved to other traffic types.

"That is why we must free the trucks from their dependence on fossil fuels, so that they can be of use also in the future. Electric roads offer this possibility and are an excellent complement to the transport system."

An intelligent pantograph combined with a hybrid drive system forms part of the core of the system.

A sensor system enables the pantograph to link to and disconnect from the overhead line at speeds of up to 90km per hour.

Trucks equipped with the system derive power from the overhead catenary wires as they drive, thereby enabling them to travel efficiently and with no emission.

Due to the hybrid system, operation outside of the contact line is also feasible, thereby maintaining the flexibility of regular trucks.

The eHighway technology comes with an open configuration due to which battery or natural gas solutions can be implemented as an alternative to the diesel hybrid drive system used in Sweden.

Currently, Siemens is developing an eHighway demonstration project in California.