To promote the use of electric lorries, Sweden is planning to allow drivers with a B-class driving licence to drive heavier vehicles. The government has already tasked the Swedish Transport Administration with designing trial operations for this purpose.
Currently, the weight of certain lorries, especially those powered by alternative fuels such as electricity or gas, requires a Class C driving licence. However, the scarcity of C-licence holders poses a challenge to the widespread adoption of electric trucks and creates additional costs for companies that typically employ B-licence drivers.
In order to overcome this obstacle, the Swedish Transport Administration will develop trial operations that will allow companies, authorities and organisations to apply for an exemption from the driving licence law. Under this initiative, drivers who have held a B licence for at least two years will be eligible to drive trucks without trailers weighing between 3,500 kg and 4,250 kg and powered by alternative fuels.
By expanding the pool of eligible drivers to include those with a B licence, the Swedish government aims to facilitate the electrification of transport.
The trials, once designed by the Swedish Transport Administration, are expected to provide insights and pave the way for wider adoption of electric trucks.