Scania is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2016. From its founding as a privately owned wagon building company back in 1891 to today’s era of connected vehicles,
Scania managed to be in the forefront of developments. Today, that successful journey continues, the company claims.
A brief rundown of Scania’s history, from its beginnings in 1891 through to today, leads to milestones like the establishing of Vabis in Södertälje in 1891, which started with the production of open goods wagons and transport wagons. Some 20 years later, Scania Vabis is created through the amalgamation of Vabis with the Malmö based, privately owned machine manufacturing company Scania.
In 1923 Scania Vabis designer August Nilsson develops a four cylinder, overhead valve engine, whose power and reliability were of major benefit in the trucks and buses of those days.
In 1936 Scania Vabis developed its first diesel engine, a six cylinder. An eight cylinder version of this engine was mounted transversely at rear in the first Scania Vabis integral bus named Metropol and based on a licence agreement witk Mack, an American truck and bus manufacturer which granted Scania Vabis to produce the Mack C50 monocoque bus for woldwide distribution – with the exception of course of the USA.
In 1961 Scania Vabis started the production of truck and bus chassis in Brazil, opening its first ever production facility outside Sweden in São Bernardo do Campo, near São Paulo.
Seven years ago, in 2009, Scania launches the Scania Touring, a new coach built in partnership with Chinese bus bodybuilder Higer. Both companies joined forces to produce buses in China for the world market – a pioneering step forward in bus manufacturing.
Today, Scania claims to be one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines, employing some 42,000 people, In 2014, net sales totalled SEK 92.1 billion and net income amounted to SEK 6 billion.
Here’s a brief rundown of Scania’s history, from its beginnings in 1891 through to today,:
1891: The privately owned wagon-building company Vabis is established in Södertälje and sets about producing open goods wagons and transport wagons. Some 20 years later, Scania-Vabis is created through the amalgamation of Vabis with the Malmö-based, privately owned machine-manufacturing company Scania.
1923: Scania-Vabis designer August Nilsson develops a four-cylinder, overhead-valve engine. The engine’s power and reliability are of major benefit in trucks and buses.
1936: Scania-Vabis develops its first diesel engine, something that impresses the trade press during test drives. “To my surprise, I could hardly hear the engine,” wrote one journalist. “However, I certainly felt its effect as the bus shot forward like an arrow.”
1961: Scania-Vabis builds on its success in Brazil, opening its first ever production facility outside Sweden in São Bernardo do Campo, near São Paulo.
1969: A legend is born! Scania introduces a 350 hp, 14-litre V8 turbocharged engine. It is the most powerful truck motor in Europe at the time and pioneers Scania’s low-rev philosophy with a high-torque output at low engine speeds.
1980: Scania launches the 2-series, the first modular commercial vehicle range
1988: The new 3-series is launched and the following year takes the International Truck of the Year award. Scania is now able to tailor trucks according to customer specifications.
1995: The 4-series is launched and the following year also receives the International Truck of the Year award.
2000: Scania’s millionth vehicle rolls off the assembly line.
2003: Scania’s Young European Truck Driver competition makes its debut. Numerous winners have since been crowned.
2009: Scania launches the Scania Touring, a new coach built in partnership with Chinese bus bodybuilder Higer. Scania and Higer has joined forces to produce buses in China for the world market – a pioneering step forward in bus manufacturing.
2010: Boasting 730 hp, Scania’s new V8 engine is the most powerful in the world without having to compromise on fuel efficiency.
2011: Two years before it becomes legally compulsory, Scania introduces Europe’s first Euro 6 truck.
2013: New Streamline models for long distance transport are launched.
2015: Scania delivers its 150,000th truck with activated connectivity.
Scania is contributing to global sustainable transport, making it much larger than just its products. During 2016, the company’s most important asset – its employees – will also be in focus.
Emissions and alternative fuels
Scania aims to play a definitive role in the growth of renewable fuel use. The company is the market leader in biofuel-adapted engines and has the broadest range of vehicles ready for alternative fuels, a segment with significant growth potential.
Along with improved efficiency, sustainably produced renewable fuels are a key part of Scania’s approach to achieving low-carbon transport. The strategy involves supplying engines running on all commercially available fuel alternatives, including compressed and liquefied biogas and natural gas, biodiesel and ethanol. Five engines in Scania´s range are adapted for biodiesel, with their output ranging from 320 to 580 hp.
Fossil fuels remain the dominant power source for vehicles across the planet. The International Energy Agency says that while biofuels currently account for only about two percent of the fuel used for transport, new technologies are broadening their applications.
Hybridisation
Energy resources and energy policies vary from country to country, meaning that Scania needs to have a high degree of flexibility and to offer a wide range of solutions. This makes it even more important to continuously develop our modular system and to work with partners in exploring cutting-edge technology.
Through the use of a “Technology Road Map”, Scania has examined future scenarios and identified key focus areas for the years ahead. The company is investigating alternative powertrain concepts, such as hybrid and electrified trucks and buses. A feasibility study based on an electric road project shows that electrification of heavy road traffic in Sweden could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4.2 million tonnes annually. Equally important factors are optimisation of the engine and the complete powertrain, better fuel efficiency, increased use of alternative fuels, efficient fleet management, and driver coaching.
Urban planners from Amsterdam to Shanghai are currently seeking silent, emission-free buses, equipped to operate 24/7 without disturbing local residents, as part of their plans for building sustainable cities. Scania is aiming to meet this demand and has delivered its first series of vehicles featuring power electrification technologies in the form of the Scania Citywide LE Hybrid bus.
Our hybrid powertrain includes the Scania 9.3-litre engine, fuelled up to 100 percent by biodiesel. Combined with biofuel driven engines, the Scania Citywide LE Hybrid promises a 60 to 65 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.
Moving ahead, hybrid technologies will be applied to a range of urban solutions, including citywide distribution services and waste handling, but buses will remain the most common application in the short term.
