Iveco S-WAY autonomous truck starts road tests in Germany
Iveco and Plus worked together to develop the Iveco S-WAY autonomous truck. Now the project has entered a new stage. Road tests of the vehicle are planned in Germany, during which specialists will record all driving characteristics, reaction speed to various objects, and other characteristics that will allow improving the truck. The resulting data will be used to refine the model for further mass production.
According to the developers, the Iveco S-WAY model is equipped with the PlusDrive system and innovative solutions that make driving much more comfortable and safe for the driver. In addition, the truck is an excellent alternative to traditional vehicles in terms of environmental friendliness.
The first tests will take place in Germany, and in the future, the vehicle will move on the roads of Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. It should be noted that Iveco’s novelty is extremely relevant for the European transport sector and especially for the German one. Germany is experiencing an acute shortage of drivers, according to the latest data on the market there is a shortage of 60 thousand professionals. In such conditions, an autonomous truck can help reduce the need for drivers. In addition, it provides a high level of road safety, eliminating accidents due to fatigue or illness. Companies will be interested in the novelty in terms of saving on the driver’s salary and insurance.
One of the world’s most pressing problems is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the transportation sector is one of the largest producers of them. To reduce the impact on the environment, a number of transport companies are switching to more environmentally friendly solutions. Road transport developers are also actively working to provide a worthy alternative to internal combustion engines. One such solution is solar panels installed on the roofs of semitrailers. The panels generate energy that goes to the battery and from there to other vehicle systems, such as elevators.
The project is still in the development stage, but 30 trucks in the European Union are already equipped with such batteries. This solution takes some of the load off the generators powered by the internal combustion engine, thus reducing fuel consumption. Tests have confirmed the effectiveness of solar panels, but developers want to improve the approach. Meanwhile, many companies are already using such trucks. The Action chain of stores, for example, has added such vehicles to its fleet.
The developers’ decision has attracted the attention of the European Commission, which said it would support the project and study its potential. The project will involve scientists from various organizations, whose experience will help make the system as effective and convenient for mass use as possible.
