ZQuip’s Post

Very interesting article about the possibilities and the advantages with battery swapping for electrification of working machines, Alastair Hayfield!

The answer is YES! With all experience by us and our customers from Agromec - Fendt Farming we can answer this question with a clear yes, battery swapping is speeding up the electrification in off-road / tractors in The Netherlands. As it is the only solution in the world above 140 hp (in fact 205 hp) battery swapping allows (almost) 24/7 operation. Over 10 tractors are currently using this technique, over 100 of these smart battery packs are in daily use in the Netherlands. A typical 200 hp tractor will have 350-400 liters of diesel which will costs almost a million Euro's to replace all energy with batteries (not even talked about the weight of this big battery). Instead use small, cheaper, battery packs and exchange them fast. Think about it: - No machine downtime at the charging station. - Your machine availability is high and able to earn money/profit - Ag is seasonal work: do not invest more money in batteries as you need year round, in busy seasons a second or third battery can be rented. - Or use your 2nd battery as energy grid stabilizer nearby solar/windturbines - Buy tractor, lease your 'energy pack' - Much higher trade-in value for base vehicle, as it is not limited to battery lifetime and/or battery technology evolution. - Will it be hydrogen, solid state or LOHC? Whatever comes next, just swap the battery for the most cost-efficient technology - without rapid depreciation of the base vehicle value! This convincent many of our customers today and more follow.

🚜 Can battery swapping help speed up the electrification of off-road machinery? Read Alastair Hayfield's thoughts below and in his latest insight. The latest edition of our Off-Highway Vehicle report is due next month. Stay tuned for more information!

Can battery swapping help speed up the electrification of off-road machinery? Off-highway machines – such as excavators and tractors – are some of the largest and most powerful machines in the world, requiring huge amounts of power and generating vast amounts of pollution per machine. Manufacturers of off-highway machinery have developed electric models to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. These machines – given their size and operating hours – are difficult to electrify, as they require very large batteries and regular access to a grid connection. To date, adoption has been very slow, even in markets which are relatively progressive when it comes to reducing emissions from construction. One of the key challenges is for electric machines to operate for the same length of time as their diesel-powered equivalents. Unlike passenger cars, off-highway machines may be in use for over 8 hours in a day and, in many cases, much more. To get the same performance from an electric machine requires a very large and very expensive battery. Not only does this make the machine unaffordable, even allowing for the lower cost of electricity versus diesel, it can be hard to design machines with very large batteries (where do they go on the vehicle?). It also takes a very long time to recharge the battery, taking the machine out of operation and doing the job it is required to do, costing the operator money. Read our insight to learn how companies and organisations like Sandvik, ZQuip, Webasto Group, Staad Groep, Agromec (Abemec bv) and others are pioneering battery swapping solutions for off-road machinery. What do you think? Do you think that battery swapping is they key to unlocking electrified solutions in off-road applications? Mart van der Valk, Matt Gryner, Rodolfo “Tito” Sosa, Holger (HoPi) Pietzsch #offhighway #constructionequipment #ag #tractors #electrification #batteries Interact Analysis Battery Swapping: the key to Off-Highway Electrification? - Interact Analysis

Is there REALLY a market for battery swapping? It all depends on the use case. "Electrification of ag equipment is challenging. However, it is just possible that a standardised battery swapping solution might help to really drive adoption and convince farmers to make the swap." Alastair Hayfield As many of you know, I grew up on a cattle and sheep farm in rural South Australia. (Yeah, that South Australia which is now a world leader in renewables adoption.) So, I have some idea how use cases might work for off road electrification. Use cases for machinery that have close access to electricity are not so hard to electrify. The utility tractor shown in the picture is not really a good example of a good use case for battery swapping. It's close to power and the use case is much more likely to involve a stop-start or occasional use regime where the tractor is less likely to be used for extended periods of time. However, use cases where vehicles operate a long way from the electricity may make battery swapping a good option. For agriculture, this could include broad acre cropping such as wheat and corn, where very large tractors and harvesters require massive power and operate a long way from electricity, or it's inconvenient to take those vehicles back to be charged. These vehicles also operate 24-7 during busy periods, like harvesting or sowing. Here battery swapping is a very viable solution. Instead of trucks bringing diesel to tractors in the fields, they would instead bring battery packs and swap them out. For any type of vehicle operation in remote areas, such as logging, some mining, remote construction and other applications, battery swapping might be a good use case moving forward. It is far, far cheaper than using hydrogen and likely cheaper, than using biodiesel or other e-fuels. While battery swapping for light duty automotive is not a very good solution in comparison to fast charging, for off-road applications such as agriculture, battery swapping could make a very significant impact, and put the segment on the pathway towards rapid electrification. Do you agree that battery swapping could make a real difference in electrifying off-highway vehicle segments? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below #automotive #batteries #climatechange #electricvehicles #innovation #sustainability

#Swedish truck company #Volvo has unveiled the next generation of its FH Electric heavy-duty electric truck which will now boast an electric range of up to 600 kilometres, double that of its predecessor. Volvo launched the first FH Electric in late 2020 as part of its first complete range of #electrictrucks. Sales began the next year, with volume production in 2022. The first FH Electric was sold in #Australia in March of this year, after it made its official Australian debut in May of 2023 at the company’s Sustainability Summit in Brisbane. Boasting a 540kWh battery pack and a range of up to 300 kilometres, the FH Electric subsequently completed Australia’s longest electric truck journey, travelling 1,185 kilometres from #Brisbane to #Canberra in around 19 hours, including necessary charging. That necessary charging time is soon to be cut short, however, after Volvo announced this week the launch of its new FH Electric, which doubles the expected range of the truck. Volvo credits the added range on its new driveline technology, the so-called e-axle, which allowed for increased battery capacity to be installed. More efficient batteries, an improved battery management system, and the overall efficiency of the powertrain also contribute to the extended range. “Our new electric flagship will be a great complement to our wide range of electric trucks and enable zero-exhaust emission transport also for the longer distances,” said Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks. “It will be a great solution for transport companies with a high annual mileage on their trucks and with a strong commitment to reduce CO2.” The new FH Electric joins a range of eight battery electric medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks in Volvo’s portfolio – a range which Volvo hopes allows for the complete electrification of city and regional distribution, construction, waste management, and long-distance transport. “The transport sector represents seven percent of global #carbonemissions,” said Alm. “Battery-electric trucks are important tools to reduce the climate footprint. Besides the important environmental gains that electric trucks bring, they offer truck drivers a much better working environment, with much lower levels of noise and vibrations.”

Been waiting for this one for a while – check out this interview with CNH Industrial CIO Marc Kermisch where we talk #automation, #autonomous vehicles, #electrification, #heavyequipment, and more. Perfect addition to this article celebrating CASE Construction Equipment's sustainable roadshow in the UK last week!

The joy of building machines, might have started already with Bob the Builder and all the great machines with different personalities. That inspired many kids wanting to become builders. :) Now Volvo Construction Equipment Volvo CE is extending its wide range of electric machines, including its first electric wheeled excavator, displayed alongside its broadest range of charging solutions. Happy to see the extended range of electromobility products that we now have at Volvo Group. The purpose-built sustainable solutions that will build new homes for families and other useful necessities. So all of you that are engineers. When did you know that your passion was exploring and creating innovative solutions? #WeareVolvoGroup Volvo Group Volvo Trucks #Engineering #Sustainability #Innovation

The #Government should reform its dated Plug-in Truck Grant to reflect the progress made by the sector in developing new #zeroemission truck technology and help cut #CO2 by 18.8 million tonnes a year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (#SMMT). Following billions in investment from manufacturers, there are now 27 models of zero emission trucks available to #UK operators with many more to come. While the Plug-in Truck Grant, introduced in 2016, seeks to help operators switch from conventionally fuelled heavy commercial vehicles to zero emission alternatives, models can only be eligible after undertaking an approval process that takes around two years. As a result, less than half (10) #ZEV truck models on the market today are currently eligible for grants. Given new truck purchases are critical long-term investments for hauliers operating with tight margins, transitioning to zero emission operations requires commercial benefit and operator confidence. Zero emission trucks are currently more expensive to manufacture so grants are essential if operators are to benefit from the many advantages, including potentially lower running costs, quieter operations and more positive public perception. While 2024 saw a record number of new zero emission trucks registered, there are still just 327 vehicles in operation (0.05% of the UK’s #HGV fleet) – meaning drivers are more likely to encounter a pink van (564 on the road) than a plug-in truck. These trucks already meet a wide range of business needs – with vehicles up to 44 tonnes and ranges of up to 311 miles – but fleets need a ‘next generation’ incentive scheme which makes it much easier for new zero emission trucks to qualify, plus a dedicated national infrastructure plan to power Britain’s road haulage fleet. Hauliers who have already committed to fleet #carbonreduction must then install depot charging or refuelling – a significant additional, but essential, cost – to ensure they can use their zero emission vehicles as easily and flexibly as their business requires. However, HGV operators do not have the same access to #infrastructure installation support as other sectors, and even those who have the resources to invest in depot chargepoints face additional hurdles in terms of #gridconnectivity and local planning constraints. The challenge continues once out on the road as there is currently just one HGV-dedicated public charge location in the whole country, on the M61 Southbound at Rivington – preventing longer distance operators from going green. Given truck #decarbonisation is essential to the UK’s 2035 #netzero targets and with the end of sale of new non-zero emission HGVs weighing less than 26 tonnes coming at the same time as the car and van sectors, urgent action is needed to create the right conditions to allow hauliers to plan their net zero investments.

The construction industry is a major contributor to global emissions, but there's a bright spark on the horizon: electric vehicles (EVs). Perhaps just one reason why building materials giant Holcim has ordered 1000 Volvo FH electric trucks. Benefits for construction companies: -Reduced Carbon Footprint: EVs eliminate tailpipe emissions, significantly lowering your company's carbon footprint and contributing to a greener future. This aligns with growing environmental regulations and consumer demands for sustainability. -Quieter Workspaces: EVs operate much quieter, creating a more pleasant and safer work environment for your team and minimizing noise disruption for surrounding communities. -Cost-Effectiveness: While the upfront cost of EVs might be higher, long-term operational costs are significantly lower due to reduced fuel and maintenance needs. Additionally, government incentives and tax breaks for EVs are becoming more prevalent, making the switch even more attractive. Want to learn more about reducing emissions in the construction and built industry? Positive Planet has a one-day, accredited Carbon Literacy for the Construction and Built industry course. PM me if interested. https://lnkd.in/eNxiHZBU #netzero #evsolutions #builtindustry #construction The Carbon Literacy Project