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HCT Vehicles in Intermodal Transport – Increased Efficiency and Reduced Climate Impact

Friday, March 7, 2025

How can longer truck combinations, known as High Capacity Transport (HCT) vehicles, be integrated into intermodal transport chains to optimize energy consumption, improve logistics flows, and reduce climate impact? The HCT Duo Demo project has explored this through practical tests and system analyses.

The project focused on a transport solution where goods are shipped by rail from the Port of Gothenburg to the Hallsberg intermodal terminal and then transported by duo-trailer to final destinations in the Örebro region. The results indicate that HCT vehicles can play a key role in the transition to more efficient and climate-smart freight transport.

Key Findings from the Project

  • Energy efficiency – HCT vehicles reduce fuel consumption per transported unit compared to conventional trucks.
  • Lower emissions – An optimized combination of rail and longer trucks can contribute to significant CO₂ reductions.
  • Traffic safety – Field studies and simulations show that HCT vehicles can coexist with cyclists and other road users, provided that overtaking is performed with sufficient safety distance and speed adaptation.
  • Business potential – Integrating HCT vehicles into intermodal flows can lower transport costs and enhance the competitiveness of rail and combined transport solutions.

The project was carried out in collaboration with multiple stakeholders and funded by the Swedish Energy Agency. By combining research with practical tests, it has provided valuable insights to support the development of sustainable logistics solutions.

For more information, access the final report, videos, and presentations from the final conference
 

Jättelång lastbil på motorväg

HCT Duo Demo

The HCT Duo Demo project explored the potential of using longer lorries (HCT vehicles) for more efficient freight transport. By testing 30-metre-long vehicles on the Hallsberg-Örebro route, the project evaluated the impact on transport efficiency, costs, road safety, and logistics. It also contributed to the development of data for environmental assessments and analysed how longer vehicles affect cyclists in traffic.

Facts About the Project

Financier: Swedish Energy Agency

Project Participants: Region Örebro County, CLOSER, Örebro University, Network for Transport Measures (NTM), Dania Connect, Chalmers University of Technology (REVERE), VTI, and RISE.

Do you want to know more about the results?

daniel-moback

Daniel Moback

Innovation & Research Manager
daniel.moback@lindholmen.se
‭+46(0)70-219 46 70