Sweden opens door to night-time operations for electric heavy trucks

Current rules in many municipalities bar trucks over 3.5 tonnes during night-time hours to prevent disturbance. The Government notes that electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles generate considerably less operational noise, which can enable off-peak deliveries with reduced impact on residents. According to the statement, using quieter vehicles at night can also improve overall fleet efficiency, as operators can make better use of their assets and help alleviate congestion.

“By giving municipalities this opportunity, we facilitate and enable quiet and emission-free transport to move around in urban environments,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson in the announcement. He added that allowing deliveries in the evening and at night “promotes the electrification of heavy trucks and contributes to increased climate benefits and increased accessibility during the day.”

The amendment has now taken effect and is available for municipalities to apply as part of their local transport planning. The option to introduce exemptions rests entirely with each municipality, which must implement the change through local traffic regulations. Only zero-emission heavy vehicles are eligible for the exemption, while diesel trucks remain covered by existing bans.

The country is not the first to implement (or allow) exemptions from night-time driving bans. Electric trucks are also allowed to cross the Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy at night, while diesel models cannot. Earlier this year, MAN and Spedition Dettendorfer started a four-week trial to prove that goods can already be transported across the Alps using all-electric vehicles without any problems. Norway has also exempted electric trucks from night-time driving bans.

But back to another Nordic country: Sweden has led the pack in terms of truck electrification before. According to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO), Sweden offers 278 public EV charging stations for heavy commercial vehicles. That makes it number two in the European ranking (Germany took the top spot with 479 charging stations).

regeringen.se (in Swedish), trans.info