Einride announces autonomous self-driving truck concept for 2020

Swedish firm Einride has developed a new self-driving lorry concept with no room for people, only freight, called the T-Pod.

According to Auto Express, the T-Pod has been designed and envisioned by tech start-up Einride.

Initial testing of the prototype is set to begin this year, the T-Pod has a 200kWh battery pack, which Einride says enables a 124-mile range on a single charge.

The truck measures approximately seven metres in length and has a cargo hold capable of fitting 15 standard pallets and can carry up to 20 tonnes in weight of freight.

In comparison, a conventional eight wheeler 20-tonne lorry usually measures beyond nine metres.

The T-Pod manages the space saving act by doing without a cabin – there’s no purpose made space for any human drivers or passengers.

The truck is capable of driving itself on highways and motorways, but in urban areas a human driver can assume control via a gaming-inspired remote driving station.

Despite still being under development, Einride envisages that an active fleet of around 200 of its autonomous trucks will be active by 2020, running a freight route between the Swedish cities of Gothenburg and Helsingborg.

Photo courtesy of Einride: Daniel Sjoholm