Einride—a Swedish startup—has designed an autonomous, electric freight truck that has been approved for use on public roads.
The Pod is now commercially available to businesses around the world who wish to use Autonomous Electric Transport to ship goods. It was in development since 2016 and became the first fully autonomous semi-truck to drive on a public road in 2019.
Einride created a proprietary classification system to help customers find their ideal model based on their individual business needs. Pods with AET Levels 1 and 2 are available for reservation now and will begin shipping this year. These vehicles are meant for closed facility operation and aren't able to travel on public roads for too long. Levels 3 and 4 will be able to handle operation on backroads and highways—these vehicles will be available in 2022-2023.
Each truck has about 16 tons of cargo capacity, and a battery that will go 80-110 miles. The trucks have also been designed with no space for a driver onboard. However, they may be operated by remote truck operators. The company estimated that implementing AET in the trucking industry can "reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent, reduce fuel/energy costs by 70 percent, cut operating costs by 60 percent and increase productivity by 200 percent."
Loss of employment is often a concern when self-driving vehicles are discussed. However, Einride's implementation of remote truck operators may create new kinds of jobs that adapt to the future demands of the trucking industry.
"We are excited to open up an entirely new category of jobs that will not only benefit the industries currently employees with improved hours, working conditions, and knowledge but reinvigorate a dying employment sector for the next wave of job seekers," Robert Falck—founder and CEO of Einride—said in a company statement.
The company has received support from major corporations such as Lidl, Oatly and Coca-Cola. Their implementation of AET in their freight operations signals a general shift away from diesel-powered trucks as reducing emissions becomes a more significant priority in the transportation industry.
Tesla has also developed an electric semi-truck that is currently being tested and will be ready for production this year. PepsiCo is anticipating delivery of 15 Tesla Semis by the end of this year.
Are you interested in an alternative to the conventional trucking business model? If so, take a look at how Relaymile is reimagining trucking to provide drivers with a healthier, more consistent standard of work.
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