Powering an all-electric driverless truck, 5G is being put into motion at the DB Schenker facility in Jönköping, Sweden, thanks to the collaboration of Einride, Ericsson, and Telia.
“This pilot is a milestone in the transition to an intelligent transportation system which will be safe, cost-efficient, and sustainable,” says DB Schenker Chief Operating Officer Ewald Kaiser. “Autonomous, all-electric trucks on public roads is not a dream any more—it’s happening right now. Thanks to our partnership with Einride, and connectivity through Ericsson and Telia, we are at the forefront of this great transition.”
The Einride’s T-pod, which was the driverless vehicle that operated continuously at the facility, received high-performance connectivity via the Ericsson Radio System and Ericsson Cloud Core for 5G.
(Image Source: Ericsson)
“Our driving mission is to lead the sustainable transition of road freight transportation. 5G provides the connectivity and reliability we need to safely introduce the T-pod onto public roads, paving the way for a 90 percent reduction in CO2 emissions and the elimination of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions,” says Robert Falck, CEO and founder of Einride.
5G represents a transportation paradigm shift, according to Åsa Tamsons, head of Business Area Technologies & New Businesses at Ericsson. The connectivity brings with it ultra-low latency and high-data speeds that can spring fleet management toward its next stage, says Tamsons.
“5G is a very exciting technology that will enable new sustainable business opportunities and create customer value. Together with our partners, we are building a powerful ecosystem that is going to have a deep impact for customers and society as a whole,” says Chief Technology Officer of Telia Sweden Mats Lundbäck.
Einride’s Autonomous Electric Transportation (AET) system, armed with the power of 5G, has the potential to replace more than 60 percent of today’s transport thanks to its sustainability and cost-competitiveness, according to Ericsson in a press release. According to an Ericsson 5G business report, there may be a potential $619 billion revenue opportunity for telecom operators in this field by 2026.
