Horse Powertrain has been selected by Scania to provide its range-extender system for a pilot vehicle, currently operating as a heavy-duty timber truck in Sweden. The collaboration is a step in testing hybrid powertrain solutions for demanding transport applications such as forestry logistics.

The pilot is part of the Scania Pilot Partner program and is currently operating in Sweden under SCA, one of Europe’s forestry companies.

The vehicle is built to handle Sweden’s timber routes, transporting heavy loads through remote terrain where access to charging infrastructure remains scarce. By combining a battery-electric drivetrain with the generator designed in Sweden by Horse Powertrain’s division Aurobay Technologies, the truck achieves both long-distance capability and reduced CO2 emissions.

The test route covers approximately 16 km, with an operational target of completing 7–8 rounds per day, comparable to a diesel truck.

The configuration supports the truck’s battery packs with a 120 kW range-extender unit based on Horse Powertrain’s 2.0 litre multi-fuel engine. Acting purely as an onboard charger, the unit supplies electric energy when required during long hauls, temperature extremes, or delays.

Matias Giannini, CEO, Horse Powertrain, said, "Forestry logistics represents one of the toughest challenges for electrification. The forest roads of northern Sweden demand strength, range and reliability. Charging stations are few, but the timber never waits. You can think of our range-extender as a powerbank for a heavy-duty truck: silent, efficient, and always there when you need it. By partnering with Scania and drawing on our engineering excellence, we’re proving how a compact, high-efficiency range-extender enables electric trucks to operate reliably in the most demanding environments. It’s a technology that cuts CO2 now.”

Tony Sandberg, Vice-President at Scania Pilot Partner, added, "What we’re doing in Sweden with Horse Powertrain and SCA builds directly on the 100-day trial we ran together with a logistics partner in Germany earlier this year. That vehicle logged almost 22,000 kilometres and drove more than 90 percent of the time on pure electric power, only using the range-extender when no charging was available. The result was a CO2 reduction of over 90 percent compared with a diesel truck. Those learnings give us a strong foundation as we tailor the system for demanding Nordic timber operations."

Ingo Scholten, Chief Technology Officer, Horse Powertrain and Managing Director Sweden, Aurobay Technologies division, said, “Electrifying heavy-duty routes means understanding what drivers and operators face hour by hour. Long stretches without charging, variable loads and rapidly changing weather. This pilot lets us study those realities directly in day-to-day timber operations. The range-extender’s role is simple. Provide a stable, efficient energy supply so drivers can complete their full shift without interruption and with far lower greenhouse-gas emissions than a traditional diesel truck. The data we gather here will guide how we refine the technology and scale it for wider use across demanding transport applications.”

Horse Powertrain’s modular range-extender architecture builds on the core technology used in its passenger-car and light-commercial hybrid systems, adapted for the higher power output and durability demands of heavy-duty applications. Unlike conventional fixed-speed generator sets, the engine can operate across its full power band, allowing the system to deliver the required output efficiently while keeping fuel consumption, noise and vibration low.

The pilot truck is now undergoing testing in regular operations, carrying full timber loads to gather performance and efficiency data in real-world conditions. The results will guide future deployments of electrified powertrains in the forestry sector and other heavy-duty applications.

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TIP Group has announced the appointment of Maurice Meijer to the newly established position of Chief Digital and Information Officer. This strategic role underscores the increasing significance of digital innovation, data management and technology in advancing the company’s long-term Strategy 2030 objectives. As TIP expands its footprint as a comprehensive transportation services provider across 17 European nations, the integration of digital solutions is viewed as essential to fostering operational efficiency, business growth and superior customer engagement.

In his capacity as CDIO, Meijer will lead the formulation and execution of the group’s digital and technological roadmap. His responsibilities encompass overseeing digital platforms, enhancing data analytics capabilities, managing IT infrastructure and strengthening cybersecurity protocols. The goal is to build resilient, scalable systems that align with TIP’s future ambitions.

Meijer joins with a robust background in board-level technology leadership. He previously served as Chief Technology and Information Officer at Nederlandse Loterij, where he spearheaded major digital transformations across various brands and platforms. Prior to that, he held key roles in digital strategy, product development and operations within both the technology sector and public institutions. Additionally, he is involved in supporting early-stage tech startups as an investor and founding partner.

His educational credentials include executive programmes at Nyenrode University and INSEAD, along with a degree in international business management. Meijer is recognised for blending strategic commercial insight with practical technological expertise.

Arjen Kraaij, President & CEO, TIP Group, said, “Digitalisation is central to TIP’s future success. With Maurice, we are bringing in a strong business and technology leader who will help us simplify complexity, strengthen our digital foundations and accelerate execution across the Group. His leadership will be instrumental as we translate our Strategy 2030 ambitions into practical, value-creating solutions for our customers and our teams.”

Meijer said, “I’m really looking forward to joining TIP at this important stage in its journey. With strong foundations, great people and clear ambitions under Strategy 2030, there’s a lot to build on. At the same time, we’re ready to take the next step by accelerating our shift towards more digital solutions. By embracing digital, data and AI in a focused and practical way, we’ll turn opportunities into solutions that truly improve the customer experience and make day-to-day work simpler, smarter and more effective for both our customers and our teams.”

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Swedish battery technology firm Holyvolt has finalised the acquisition of US-based materials specialist Wildcat Discovery Technologies in a deal valued at USD 73 million. The transaction consists of a combination of cash, equity and deferred milestone payments.

The merger integrates Wildcat’s High Throughput Platform (HTP) for material synthesis with Holyvolt’s water-based screen-printing production processes. The combined entity intends to operate as a technology development partner for the automotive, aerospace and energy storage sectors, offering licensing and pilot-scale production services.

Wildcat’s HTP system allows for the simultaneous screening of thousands of material combinations. This method is reported to be up to 10 times faster than standard research and development protocols, generating terabyte-scale datasets suitable for machine learning and AI applications.

Key capabilities of the integrated group include:

• Material Discovery: Use of combinatorial chemistry to identify optimal battery systems.
• Manufacturing Process: Holyvolt’s water-based processing serves as a replacement for conventional organic solvent-based slurries.
• Data-Driven Optimisation: Integration of structured datasets into AI models to accelerate development cycles.
• Sustainability: Focus on cobalt- and nickel-free materials to reduce capital requirements and supply chain dependencies.

The acquisition follows a EUR 20 million funding round for Holyvolt. The new group aims to address production costs and supply chain independence in Europe and North America by combining chemistry expertise with modular manufacturing technology.

Mathias Ingvarsson, Founder & CEO, Holyvolt, said, “The acquisition of Wildcat is a perfect complement to our intended strategy of developing new technologies for the battery industry. Holyvolt is focused on developing new processes to make batteries cleaner and more affordable, and Wildcat has been pursuing the same goals via materials development and better chemistry. Combined, we are building what we believe is the most compelling technology to deliver on these objectives.”

Mark Gresser, President and CEO, Wildcat Discovery Technologies, stated, “The Wildcat team is thrilled with this acquisition by Holyvolt. Mathias and team are very thoughtful with regard to their objectives in the battery industry, and recognise the value that Wildcat’s High Throughput Platform can deliver to our combined company and the industry at large. With Holyvolt’s vision and financial backing, Wildcat can finally unlock the true potential of high throughput combinatorial chemistry for battery materials.”

Prof. Peter Schultz, Founder, Wildcat Discovery Technologies, noted, “With Holyvolt, we can do for batteries what high throughput and AI have done for drug discovery.”

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Chinese automotive major BYD has revealed its second-generation Blade Battery alongside FLASH Charging technology, aimed at improving charging speeds and battery performance in low temperatures.

The system achieves a claimed charge from 10 percent to 70 percent state of charge (SOC) in five minutes, and reaches 97 percent in nine minutes. In temperatures of -30deg C, the charging time from 20 percent to 97 perrcent increases by three minutes compared to performance at room temperature.

The second-generation Blade Battery increases energy density by 5 percent over the previous version. To manage thermal loads during rapid charging, BYD integrated a ‘Lithium-Ion High-Speed Channel’ and a thermal management system.

Key technical specifications include:

• Range: The Denza Z9GT, equipped with this battery, achieves a range of 1,036 km.
• Thermal Management: Full-spectrum systems to regulate heat dissipation.
• Safety Standards: The battery has passed national safety tests regarding puncture and thermal runaway.
• Infrastructure: A world-leading single-connector output of 1500 kW.

BYD plans to build 20,000 FLASH Charging Stations in China by end-2026, with a global rollout scheduled to follow. These stations will feature a pulley-based charger design to improve user ergonomics and keep cables off the ground.

To manage the high-power requirements of 1500 kW charging, the stations use energy storage systems to buffer the demand, reducing the load on the local power grid.

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Horse Powertrain, a global leader in advanced and low-emission powertrain solutions, has unveiled its new Amorphous Motor technology, marking a significant step forward in hybrid transmission systems. The innovation was introduced to the public for the first time at the IAA Summit 2025.

Central to the motor’s design is the use of amorphous steel, a material known for its exceptional strength, durability and magnetic properties. This material allows the company to significantly reduce the thickness of the steel laminations used in the motor’s stator. While traditional motors use steel sheets of a standard thickness, the layers in the Amorphous Motor are only 0.025 mm thick, roughly one-tenth of the conventional standard.

This ultra-thin construction, combined with the material’s high conductivity, leads to a 50 percent reduction in stator iron losses compared to similar designs. Consequently, the motor achieves a record-setting efficiency of 98.2 percent, all while delivering a maximum output of 140 kW and 360 Nm of torque.

The practical impact for hybrid vehicles is a one percent improvement in overall fuel and energy efficiency. This reduction in consumption supports automotive manufacturers in their efforts to develop a new wave of lower-emission models. This breakthrough is part of a broader strategy by Horse Powertrain to advance hybrid and combustion technologies through a technologically neutral approach to decarbonisation. The company’s global capabilities, which include 17 manufacturing sites, five research and development centres and a workforce of 19,000, continue to drive this series of high-efficiency innovations.

Ingo Scholten, Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Horse Powertrain, said, “This latest innovation demonstrates Horse Powertrain’s continued commitment to research and development, providing suppliers and OEMs with the tools to raise the bar on when it comes to fuel economy and emissions performance. The Amorphous Motor is an ideal tool to power a new generation of high-efficiency range extended EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, ensuring these technologies continue to play a substantial role in automotive’s decarbonisation journey.”

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