DUTCH SUPER-ECOCOMBI MOVES CLOSER TO ROAD TESTING
Dutch road transport association TLN has reported that the first Super-Ecocombi (SEC) could enter public roads in the Netherlands for a pretest later this year. Final safety and control tests will take place at the RDW test facility in the coming weeks.
The SEC, also known internationally as EMS2, consists of a tractor and two trailers connected by a dolly. It can carry approximately the same volume of goods as two conventional tractor-trailer combinations, improving vehicle efficiency, reducing CO₂ emissions and easing driver shortages. SECs are already operating in several European countries, including Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Spain.
Subject to successful testing and the necessary exemptions, the Dutch pretest will take place on the Rotterdam–Moerdijk–Venlo route. The vehicle will operate without commercial cargo and will be equipped with 360-degree cameras to monitor its road behaviour and the reactions of other road users. For the pretest, its maximum permitted weight has been reduced from 72 to 64 tonnes.
If the pretest is successful, a broader pilot involving several SEC combinations is expected to begin around summer 2027. The pilot may include combinations of up to 72 tonnes using a 6x2 tractor and lighter combinations of up to 57.5 tonnes using a 4x2 tractor.