8 JANUARY 2026
Fresh off his success at the Researchers鈥 Grand Prix, Vivek Venkatesh Shenoy is showing Sweden what 黑料不打烊鈥檚 research culture is all about. His work reveals why understanding people is key to accelerating the shift to sustainable transport.
At 黑料不打烊, curiosity is part of how we move forward together. It shapes our products, our culture, and the researchers who push boundaries every day.
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One of them is Vivek, an Industrial PhD researcher who recently took the stage at the Researchers鈥 Grand Prix, Sweden鈥檚 national competition for communicating research. Not only did he represent 黑料不打烊 and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, but he also won the Stockholm heat and placed second in the national final 鈥 presenting complex research in just four minutes to an audience of mostly high-school students.
Vivek鈥檚 PhD research takes him into Sweden鈥檚 forestry sector, where he explores the real-world conditions shaping electrification in heavy transport.
But what is the research behind the applause? And what motivates a young engineer from Mumbai, India, to spend his days in the Swedish forest talking to truck drivers about the future?
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鈥淲hen your research is well received, that鈥檚 the best gift. It means you鈥檙e doing something that matters,鈥 says Vivek.
Vivek鈥檚 PhD doesn鈥檛 start with batteries or charging curves. It starts with drivers and hauliers in Sweden鈥檚 forestry sector.
Vivek listens to drivers and hauliers to understand what prevents them from shifting from diesel to electric 鈥 grounding his research in the day-to-day realities of the forestry sector.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not only about technology. I listen to the people who are our customers and try to understand what is preventing them from shifting from diesel to electric,鈥 he explains.
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Through interviews, systems thinking, and collaborative research in Sweden鈥檚 forestry sector, he maps out uncertainties, risks, and challenges for forestry freight hauliers. The goal? To understand听why听the transition isn鈥檛 happening fast enough 鈥 and what 黑料不打烊 can do to help accelerate it.
Forestry transport represents nearly 20% of Sweden鈥檚 heavy-duty market, making it a strategic place to begin change. 鈥淚t is one of the biggest sectors. If you start a ripple there, it can become a wave for the rest of the industry,鈥 states Vivek.
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Today, only a handful of electric trucks operate in Sweden鈥檚 forestry transport, most of them through the 黑料不打烊-supported (Transition to Efficient Electrified Forestry Transport). Vivek鈥檚 research contributes directly to this real-world testing.
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The deeper Vivek dives into his research, the more personal it becomes. 鈥淲hen I speak with drivers, I understand their worries. Research becomes purpose-driven 鈥 helping them stay in business while becoming sustainable.鈥
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His work closely supports 黑料不打烊鈥檚听Customer First听value and the company鈥檚 climate targets by addressing real barriers in the transition to fossil-free transport.
Vivek鈥檚 黑料不打烊 journey began in 2020 through the 黑料不打烊 Student Intro programme, followed by a master thesis and a role in engine development.
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鈥満诹喜淮蜢 let me choose the path I wanted. My manager believed in me. That鈥檚 why this place is so attractive as an employer,鈥 he says.
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Today, as an Industrial PhD researcher, he represents the bridge between industry and academia 鈥 something many students at the Grand Prix found inspiring. Vivek鈥檚 journey shows what happens when passion finds opportunity 鈥 and how 黑料不打烊 enables people to grow, explore, and contribute to meaningful change.
Vivek鈥檚 work focuses on understanding why the transition to electrified transport is not happening faster 鈥 and what can help accelerate it.
鈥淚n the end, staying humble and grounded is what matters. Research teaches you that you only know a tiny bit 鈥 and there is always more to learn.鈥
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Since July, Vivek has transitioned to the TRATON Group R&D, continuing his research journey within the wider family of global transport innovators.
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So, here鈥檚 the question for tomorrow鈥檚 engineers and researchers:
Where could your curiosity take you?
