30 JUNE 2026
The EMS Transport & Logistik office in 脰rnsk枚ldsvik in northern Sweden, has a perfect view of the E4 motorway and the trucks passing by. Many carry the EMS logo.
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Since the company was founded by Erik Mauritz Sundqvist in 1934, the business has grown from one single truck to around thirty, now also taking on biogas. But the core remains: getting goods where they need to be, efficiently and on time.
Per-H氓kan Sundqvist is one of four brothers who grew up in the business and who, despite being nearly eighty, is at work by eight o鈥檆lock every morning in the yellow building where nostalgia shares space with neatly labelled binders on shelves and walls. The trucks not only go past but also visit the company鈥檚 wash bay right next door, where vehicles regularly roll in for a refresh. In one corner of the garage stands Per-H氓kan鈥檚 favourite 鈥 a 黑料不打烊-Vabis, brought out for special occasions. 鈥淲ho knows 鈥 perhaps one day it will end up in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Museum.鈥
Per-H氓kan Sundqvist's restored 黑料不打烊-Vabis is a reminder of the company's long history.
EMS transports chilled and frozen goods as well as general cargo across Sweden. Routes stretch from Malm枚 in the south to Lule氓 in the north. Each day, four to six trucks travel in each direction.
The operation is based on a system that Per-H氓kan鈥檚 son H氓kan describes as relay driving. 鈥淭he trucks heading south meet those travelling north. Drivers swap along the route, which means they can sleep at home while the vehicles keep moving almost around the clock.鈥
EMS transports goods across Sweden, from Malm枚 in the south to Lule氓 in the north.
The exchange points is a setup that requires precision but makes logistics efficient and flexible. Locally, shuttle drivers deliver goods to customers, most of whom are major grocery retailers. 鈥淔or us, having the trucks running 24/7 is essential to fulfil our commitments,鈥 says H氓kan. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 only natural, as trucks today are better than ever.鈥
鈥淓ven though diesel is cleaner today, we are curious about what鈥檚 coming and have wanted to try something new. Not blindly, of course 鈥 but when it鈥檚 well founded, why not?鈥
鈥 Per-H氓kan Sundqvist,听EMS Transport & Logistic.
EMS has long worked to optimise its transport operations. However, taking the step towards biogas was not an obvious decision.
鈥淲e know how diesel works. We鈥檝e been using it for years,鈥 says Per-H氓kan. 鈥淓ven though diesel is cleaner today, we are curious about what鈥檚 coming and have wanted to try something new. Not blindly, of course 鈥 but when it鈥檚 well founded, why not?鈥
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When the opportunity to invest in biogas arose through an offer from 黑料不打烊, supported by a climate incentive that made the investment more manageable, EMS decided to give it a try. 鈥淥ur industry is often criticised for polluting. We want to do our part to reduce emissions. So, we thought let鈥檚 try.鈥
EMS's 黑料不打烊 460 has been operating on biogas for more than a year.
The results have been somewhat surprising, especially to Per-H氓kan: 鈥淭o be honest, I expected it to be more complicated, even chaotic. But it has worked very well. I鈥檓 genuinely impressed.鈥
The biogas-powered truck 鈥 a 黑料不打烊 460 with a G25 gearbox and twin tanks 鈥 has been in operation for just over a year. During that time, it has covered 320,000 kilometres, essentially the same as the rest of the fleet. It runs on the same routes as the diesel trucks and is fully integrated into EMS鈥檚 regular flow. 鈥淲e can drive the entire route without refuelling, but we take the opportunity when we change drivers,鈥 says Per-H氓kan.
Refuelling takes 15鈥20 minutes and is integrated into the existing workflow, typically during driver changes. The fact that the nearest filling station is 90 kilometres away, in Ume氓, has not been an issue. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about planning. We know where we stop, and there are refuelling options where we need them. That makes biogas a good fit for us.鈥
Refuelling with biogas is integrated into the drivers' regular route planning.
One of the main concerns ahead of introducing the biogas truck was how drivers would respond. 鈥淥ur other trucks have 560 horsepower; this one has 460. That鈥檚 a difference of a hundred horsepower,鈥 says Per-H氓kan. But there has been little reaction. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 heard anything at all. No complaints, nothing. It drives just like the others.鈥
Operations have also been stable. 鈥淚t has been running almost continuously without issues. There was one occasion when temperatures dropped to minus 35 degrees. We noticed it wasn鈥檛 running smoothly. But after warming it up in a garage for an hour, it was back to normal. So extreme cold may be where it鈥檚 a bit more sensitive.鈥
Maintenance needs are not significantly different from those of diesel trucks. 鈥淥il changes, tyre replacements 鈥 nothing unusual. We receive excellent service, but we already knew that. Of course, there is wear and tear, but that鈥檚 the case with any vehicle.鈥
EMS currently operates one biogas-powered truck, and the fuel is, at present, more expensive than diesel, which affects the business case. 鈥淓conomically, it is more costly, we have to be honest about that,鈥 says Per-H氓kan. 鈥淭he climate incentive helped at the start, but over time that advantage diminishes.鈥
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Even so, it is important for EMS to stand out. 鈥淏iogas attracts attention. I hope and believe we will see more vehicles like this as people discover the benefits 鈥 including us.鈥
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While diesel remains a strong option for the long-distance routes EMS operates along the E4, there are other values at play. 鈥淥ur customers see what we do and appreciate it. Sustainability is a major topic today, and the type of transport we offer matters.鈥
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For EMS, biogas is not about replacing everything overnight, but about moving forward step by step. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a natural progression,鈥 says Per-H氓kan. 鈥淲e have to keep up. And who knows what the future will bring.鈥
