Scania’s NXT concept vehicle features front and rear drive modules that can be fitted to a bus body, a distribution truck body or a refuse collector. Photo: Scania
Scania Debuts Reconfigurable Urban Utility Vehicle Concept
Is the vehicle a bus? Or a truck?
What if it’s both, depending upon requirements?
That’s the thinking behind Swedish truck maker Scania’s new NXT concept vehicle – a modularly designed, self-driving electric vehicle that can change configurations to meet varying urban fleet requirements. The NXT features front and rear drive modules that can be fitted to a bus body, a distribution truck body, or a refuse collector. It can be a commuter bus in the morning and evening, for example, and a refuse truck overnight, and handle next-mile delivery during the day.
The 8-meter (26-foot) bus module is built as one composite unit, substantially reducing weight, Scania said. A bank of cylindrical cell batteries are placed under the floor to make use of otherwise dead space while contributing to overall weight distribution for the vehicle. The NXT tips the scales at less than 17,600 pounds. Scania said the range of it present-day batteries is estimated at 150 miles on a single charge.
Scania designers said the concept vehicle is a way of calling attention to the 24/7 flow of people and goods in cities, which the OEM said needs to be coherently addressed rather than disparately planned. Currently, Scania said, logistics flows in cities are far from being optimized, because goods are delivered during the morning rush hour while most people are also on the move.
Meanwhile, in Europe, commercial transport is largely barred from city centers during nights when people are asleep to keep noise levels down. Scania believes that a new generation of vehicles, like the NXT, based on common chassis and powertrains that can be quickly reconfigured to switch from different applications based on fleet needs or the time of day, is one way of addressing these problems while decreasing congestion and enhancing fleet optimization.
“NXT is a vision of the future for transport in cities,” said Scania President and CEO Henrik Henriksson in an announcement. “Several of these technologies have yet to fully mature but for us it’s been important to actually build a concept vehicle to visibly and technically demonstrate ideas of what is within reach. NXT is designed for 2030 and beyond while incorporating several cutting-edge features that are already available.”
FLEET MANAGEMENT AUDIT
Fleet management is the use of a set of vehicles in order to provide services to a third-party, or to perform a task for our organization, in the most efficient and productive manner with a determined level of service and cost.
Fleet management activities are shown in the following graph 1:
Graph 1: fleet management activities
The proposal audit analyses and assesses all fleet management activities shown in the graph 1, and its main goals are:
- Know the overall status of the fleet management activities
- Provide the analysis, the assessment, the advice, the suggestions and the actions to take in order to cut costs and increase the efficiency and efficacy of the fleet management activities
With the information obtained, we’ll elaborate a report that holds the overall status of the fleet management as well as the suggestions, recommendations and the measures to take in order to cut costs and optimize the fleet management activities.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE PROPOSED FLEET MANAGEMENT AUDIT:
Fleet Management Audit AFMC
Contact:
José Miguel Fernández Gómez
34 678254874
info@advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com
I´m a Fleet Management expert, and the manager of Advanced Fleet Management Consulting, that provides Fleet Management Consultancy Services.