Finnish industrial vehicle manufacturer Kalmar and Swedish charging technology company Elonroad have reached a new milestone in their electric road pilot project by adding a second vehicle type to the testing programme.
The latest phase of the project involves the battery-electric Kalmar Ottawa T2 EV terminal tractor, which is now being tested on Elonroad’s conductive charging system at Kalmar’s Innovation Centre in Ljungby, Sweden.
The pilot is designed to evaluate the potential of dynamic charging technology for heavy-duty electric vehicles operating in ports and logistics environments.
Testing Conductive Dynamic Charging
The project is centred around a 200-metre electrified roadway equipped with Elonroad’s conductive charging rails.
Unlike inductive charging systems that transfer energy wirelessly, Elonroad’s technology requires a physical connection between a current collector mounted underneath the vehicle and the charging rail embedded in the road surface.
The system is capable of delivering up to 300 kW of power while the vehicle is in motion, allowing batteries to be charged dynamically during operation.
The technology is intended to reduce charging downtime, minimise battery size requirements, and support continuous operation of heavy-duty electric equipment.
Second Vehicle Added to Pilot Programme
Earlier phases of the project focused on testing the charging system with a battery-electric Kalmar reach stacker, a vehicle commonly used for handling and stacking shipping containers.
The addition of the Kalmar Ottawa T2 EV terminal tractor expands the evaluation to another critical vehicle category widely used in ports and cargo terminals worldwide.
Terminal tractors are responsible for moving trailers and containers around logistics facilities, making them a key component of daily port operations.
The project is scheduled to conclude in June, with Kalmar and Elonroad planning to publish a joint final report outlining the results and findings in autumn 2026.
Preparing for Real-World Port Deployments
Supported by funding from the Swedish Energy Agency, the programme aims to further develop conductive charging technology specifically for port applications.
The partners are evaluating charging efficiency, operational reliability and the impact of dynamic charging on vehicle uptime.
“The ultimate goal is to offer Kalmar’s customers a worry-free charging solution that delivers effectively unlimited onboard energy for continuous operations,” said Per-Erik Johansson, Manager at Kalmar.
“We are excited to take the next step towards this goal, demonstrating that dynamic charging is not only possible but a promising path forward for the future of electric heavy-duty transport.”
Johansson added that once the current verification phase is completed, the technology will be tested in real-world port environments with pilot customers.
Industry Sees Potential for Large-Scale Adoption
Elonroad views the inclusion of the terminal tractor as an important step toward commercial deployment.
“The terminal tractor is a key component of port operations around the world. Seeing it tested on our system is a major milestone,” said Elonroad CEO Karin Ebbinghaus.
“Our collaboration with Kalmar aims to demonstrate that this technology works for the vehicles that are actually used in ports every day.”
Following completion of the pilot programme, the companies plan to move the technology into operational environments where it can be evaluated under real-world conditions.
If successful, the conductive charging system could provide a new approach to electrifying heavy-duty transport operations in ports and logistics hubs by enabling vehicles to charge continuously while working, reducing downtime and supporting higher utilisation rates.
The project represents part of a broader industry effort to develop innovative charging solutions capable of supporting the electrification of commercial and industrial vehicle fleets.