New addition to electric road project: Kalmar and Elonroad test dynamic charging with a terminal tractor

As part of the Swedish Energy Agency’s initiative on port electrification, a second vehicle is now being tested on Elonroad’s charging rails at Kalmar’s Innovation Center in Ljungby. The project will conclude in June, with results to be summarized in a final report during fall of 2026.

Elonroad and Kalmar are taking the next step in their joint electrification project. A Kalmar Ottawa T2 EV electric terminal tractor has now been connected to Elonroad’s conductive electric road system in Ljungby and has begun its testing phase. Elonroad’s technology uses conductive charging via a rail embedded in the road, enabling vehicles to charge automatically while driving; so-called dynamic charging. The project is now fully underway, with the terminal tractor becoming the second vehicle tested after the Kalmar reachstacker.

The terminal tractor is one of the most widely used vehicles in terminal logistics, found in nearly every port, container terminal, and distribution center worldwide. Operating around the clock, the terminal tractor is responsible for moving trailers efficiently between locations. Its repetitive driving patterns and defined routes make it particularly well suited for electric road systems, allowing it to benefit significantly from continuous, dynamic charging. Testing this vehicle is therefore a strategic choice, demonstrating that electric road technology can support the types of vehicles used globally across port operations.

The project is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and aims to further develop Elonroad’s dynamic electric road system for port environments, as well as to identify and adapt suitable vehicles for conductive charging during operation. Practical drive cycles have been developed to measure the terminal tractor’s energy consumption and charging needs in real-world terminal operations. Continuous testing began in May 2026 and will continue through the end of June, after which a report will be submitted to the Swedish Energy Agency in the fall.

Quotes
“The ultimate goal is to offer Kalmar’s customers a worry-free charging solution that delivers effectively unlimited onboard energy for continuous operations. 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. Following this verification phase, which tests charging efficiency and uptime improvements on the electric road with Kalmar terminal tractor, the technology will be tested in a real-life port environment with pilot customers.”

- Per-Erik Johansson, Technology Manager, Electrification, Kalmar.

"The terminal tractor is a key component of port operations around the world. Seeing it tested on our system is a major milestone. Our collaboration with Kalmar aims to demonstrate that this technology works for the vehicles that are actually used in ports every day. Following this verification phase, we look forward to taking it into real-life port environments with pilot customers, and showing what it can do at scale."

- Karin Ebbinghaus, CEO, Elonroad

About Kalmar Ottawa T2 terminal tractor
Kalmar Ottawa has been manufacturing terminal tractors since 1958 and is a leading player in the segment. The Kalmar Ottawa T2 is one of the most widely used terminal tractors globally, operating in ports, container terminals, and distribution centers. It is available in both diesel and electric versions.

About Elonroad
Elonroad is a Swedish deep-tech company developing automatic charging infrastructure for electrified transport. Its solutions enable vehicles to receive energy continuously while in operation, reducing the need for large batteries, increasing fleet availability, and accelerating the electrification of logistics, ports, and industrial transport systems.