Einride's T-Pod, the name of the first autonomous delivery truck to start operating in Sweden

It is called the T-Pod, it is manufactured by Einride and it is already driving on a public road in Sweden at a maximum speed of 5 km/h. The company plans for 200 autonomous, electric units to be on the roads across Europe by 2020.

Autonomous delivery trucks have already started operating in Sweden, and although some sources compare them to a Star Wars stormtrooper helmet, these vehicles have become the first of their kind in the world.

Electric and autonomous trucks began working last Wednesday on public roads in Sweden. They have been developed by Einride, and DB Schenker has become the first logistics company to use its services.

It is called the Einride T-Pod, and it has no cab. Robert Falck, CEO of the Swedish company Einride, has stated that “the company was in talks with the main suppliers to help scale production and deliver orders, and that the company did not rule out future partnerships with major truck manufacturers”.

Einride T-Pod, the first electric truck without a driver

“This public road operating permit is an important milestone and a step towards commercializing autonomous technology on the roads,” said Falck, CEO of Einride and former executive at Volvo.

“Since we are primarily a software and operations company, a partnership with a manufacturing company is something we see as a core development,” he said, adding that he expects to seal an agreement next year.

Falck also said that Einride, whose investors include former Daimler Asia truck chief Marc Llistosella, is also courting investors for a Series A fundraising round, often a company’s first. It has previously raised around ten million dollars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr7sC9zPWDc

The first autonomous electric truck drives through Sweden

The first autonomous, electric truck is already driving through Sweden, as alliances grow to share the cost of technology. This is the case of Ford, which has committed to investing 500 million dollars in Rivian to develop its electric car.

Specifically, the Einride T-Pod has a capacity of 26 tonnes and no cab, which is estimated could reduce the operating costs of freight transport by 60% compared with a diesel truck with a driver.

In addition to working with Schenker, Einride has orders from Lidl, Svenska Retursystem and five Fortune 500 retail companies. These bookings would support the ambition of having 200 vehicles in operation by the end of 2020.

Freight operators are under pressure to reduce delivery times, cut emissions and face a growing shortage of drivers. Einride’s T-Pod combines digitalization and electrification. Jochen Thewes, CEO of Schenker, has said that “we believe Einride has the best concept available right now”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72PWe0Fm13c

T-Pod, a Level 4 autonomous vehicle

Einride’s first autonomous truck features Level 4 autonomous technology, the second highest level, and uses an Nvidia Drive platform to process visual data in real time. An operator, sitting many kilometres away, can monitor and control up to ten vehicles at once.

The Einride T-Pod has become the first electrically powered autonomous truck to operate on Swedish roads. It has permission to make short trips linking the terminal with a warehouse. It can also drive on a public road in Jönköping at a maximum speed of 5 km/h.

The company’s CEO added that Einride would apply for more public road permits during the next year, 2020. It could also expand its services to the United States. “Ground zero for autonomous vehicles is the United States. I think it will be the first market to scale when it comes to autonomous vehicles.”