- The government's announcement can create opportunities that facilitate work to achieve our goal of implementing all our city deliveries with electric trucks within a few years, also in Sweden.
This is how Ali Ghoce, CEO of the last mile company Gordon, comments on the Swedish government's announcement that the Swedish Transport Agency will be tasked with designing a trial where heavier electric trucks can be driven with a B licence.
The investigation assignment that the Government is now giving to the Swedish Transport Agency concerns the possibility for companies in Sweden to make use of an exemption from the EU's own driving licence rules. The exemption means that it is possible to drive a vehicle weighing 4,250 kg with a B licence if this vehicle is powered by electricity or gas. Today, the maximum authorised total weight is 3 500 kg. As Denmark has already introduced this exemption, Gordon has been using heavier electric lorries in its Danish operations since January this year with positive results.
- "We at Gordon and many others in the transport industry have wanted the government to give us the same opportunity in Sweden as we have in Denmark. Therefore, today's announcement is very gratifying," says Ali Ghoce.
Sharing Danish experiences
Gordon currently uses a model of electric lorry in Denmark, which is not possible to use in the Swedish operation due to current Swedish regulations. The proposed trial makes it easier to electrify temperature-controlled home deliveries, as the higher total weight allows one battery for the engine and one for the refrigeration unit without reducing the amount of goods in the load.
- We at Gordon look forward to sharing our experience from our operations in Denmark with the Danish Transport Agency, says Ali Ghoce.
In recent years, Gordon has seen a significant increase in the number of people who let a home delivery of chilled groceries make their everyday lives easier. In 2022, Gordon delivered a chilled home delivery to one in eight Swedish households. By coordinating deliveries from multiple companies, Gordon is able to create even more efficient routes.
- With today's announcement, we at Gordon see opportunities to continue to develop our business with electric trucks to get an even more sustainable and quiet delivery, says Ali Ghoce.
Link to the government press release: https://regeringen.se/pressmeddelanden/2023/06/regeringen-ger-transportstyrelsen-i-uppdrag-att-utforma-forsoksverksamhet-med-tyngre-lastbilar-pa-b-korkort/
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