Ericsson brings self-propelled trucks onto public roads with 5G technology

Network supplier Ericsson and the Swedish telecom provider Telia work together with Einride. It offers autonomous vehicles for the transport of goods. Together, the companies are building a system for self-propelled trucks that operate using 5G technology.

That’s what Internet or Business is reporting today. The cooperation between the three companies is aimed at setting up a sustainable transport system, in which various electric and autonomous vehicles are connected to each other. Today, therefore, also the integration of 5G technology, which makes it possible to process large quantities of data.

Driverless electric vehicle

The T-Pod, a driverless and electric vehicle from Einride, will be the companies’ autonomous truck to really get the technology on the road. It uses 5G technology from Ericsson. The T-Pod currently only works at the DB Schenker facility in Sweden, but will soon also be able to go on the road.

At least that is what the cooperating companies say. The T-Pod, combined with the autonomous transport system and 5G, could eventually take over sixty percent of the transport. It can do that as a cost-efficient and reliable system. That’s also what COO Ewald Kaiser of DB Schenker says:

This pilot represents a milestone in the transition to an intelligent transport system that is safe, cost-efficient and sustainable. Autonomous, all-electric trucks on public roads are no longer a dream – they are already being developed.

The idea is that fully electric freight transport can reduce CO2 emissions by 90%. It would also make it possible to significantly reduce emissions of sulphur and other harmful substances, among other things. Our mission is to shape the transition to sustainable freight transport, says Robert Falck, CEO and founder of Einride. 5G offers the connectivity and reliability we need to introduce T-Pods safely on public roads.