The big guy has arrived. It’s the Scania V8 770S. Powered by a 16-litre Euro 6 compliant, 770hp engine, the Scania V8 770S can haul up to 90 tons. With this output, it will be one of the most powerful trucks on South Africa’s roads. With 3 700 Nm torque and a power take-off (PTO) of 800 Nm, Scania claims that the V8 770S delivers a new benchmark in pulling power.
“Tested on a reference slope with a constant 15-kilometre uphill stretch, the V8 770S was so powerful it had to be reigned in” says Erik Bergvall, Managing Director of Scania Southern Africa, adding that 450 hp trucks loaded with 40 tons struggle at 35/km/h. “With the V8 770S, there is a dramatic difference. It can travel twice as fast effortlessly.”
According to Bergvall, the Scania V8 770’s real power comes from its sustainability credentials. “The V8 770S is the product of decades of Scania’s world-leading technological breakthroughs with every component in the V8 engine starting out as a model on a computer.”
He points out that software development means there is no limit to how many prototypes can be tried before the final one is built and tested. “This has allowed for multiple technological updates that have delivered substantial sustainable performance benefits.”
South Africa has, for many years, been boosting the ranks of its Euro 5 compliant fleets but this is a Euro 6-compliant V8 which, according to Bergvall, significantly improves fuel efficiency. “By using less fuel, the V8 770S emits fewer emissions and a lighter engine translates into a weight saving of 75 kilograms. This allows for an optimised payload. Hauling more cargo in one trip boosts fuel cost efficiencies and productivity while consolidating trips removes emissions from the environment” says Bergvall.
Emissions are further decreased through the Scania SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system. This after-treatment system ensures exhaust gases are released with minimum nitrogen oxide (NOx) content. By injecting AdBlue, a urea-based additive into the exhaust system, a chemical reaction takes place that converts the toxic nitrogen oxides into harmless water and nitrogen gases. “It’s an easy-to-handle system, is proven reliable and does not affect torque or power,” explains Bergvall.
Equipped with the Scania Opticruise gearbox, the V8 770S benefits from reduced internal friction, higher compression ratios, pneumatic shifting and economy gear ratio. These technological advances improve maintenance levels leading to longer service intervals. When driven in economy mode, the V8 770S delivers great fuel efficiencies along with carbon emission reductions.
“This is a heavy commercial vehicle designed for operations that require superior efficiency, power and performance, while still aligning with our customers’ sustainability goals,” says Bergvall.
Scania regards this new model as another step forward in meeting the increasing demand for transport while at the same time reducing carbon emissions. “With improved energy efficiencies, low fuel consumption and decreased carbon emissions, legendary power no longer comes at the expense of the environment,” says Bergvall.
FleetWatch hasn’t heard operators talking about 770hp for a long time. Is it needed?
We’ll take a closer look into this. In the meantime, nice to see Euro 6 arrive on our shores, especially since our legislation is still at the archaic Euro2 level. Eieeesh!
