With the transportation industry accounting for at least one-third of global emissions, electrifying the world’s massive fleet of vehicles will be a critical step toward finally achieving carbon neutrality. To achieve this goal, dozens of established automakers, EV startups and battery companies across the globe are working to pack as much energy as they can into an electric vehicle battery without impacting efficiency or increasing weight.
Since electric vehicle performance is intrinsically tied to efficiency, there is a limit to how much energy can be packed into a battery before the extra weight cancels out the range improvements. Even so, researchers and engineers have pushed the bounds of what is possible with electrification to create truly gargantuan vehicles that can still run on electricity.
First is the PC8000-11 surface mining excavator, a massive 778-ton excavator developed by Komatsu. One of the largest mining excavators in the world, this machine previously could only run on fossil fuels, but Komatsu has now unveiled an electrified version that doesn’t sacrifice functionality and performance to cut emissions.
Komatsu Germany marketing manager Thomas Jordan says that while the combustion engine version of the excavator uses a whopping 88 gallons of fuel every hour, the electric version is powered by electricity fed through a power cable. A Swedish customer with access to both hydro and nuclear energy compared the two versions and said the electric version had 95% less well-to-wheel emissions. According to Jordan, miners are showing increasing interest in this option.
The Bagger 293 bucket-wheel excavator is a colossal vehicle that was developed by the German mining equipment company Takraf during the 1990s. Crowned the heaviest land vehicle in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records, the 14,200-ton, strip-mining excavator is also powered by a chunky power cable connected to an energy source instead of an onboard battery. China’s Shen24 is the world’s most powerful electric train and can carry more than 10,000 tons of coal at a blistering 75 mph.
On a much smaller scale is the Ivecvo electric van, which more than makes up for its lack of size with a significant towing capacity of up to 153.58 tons. The FH electric truck by Volvo is among the heaviest battery-powered EVs on the road, with one version weighing 74 tons and another 68 tons. The 68-ton version can typically travel its 99-mile route in Finland on a single charge, but Volvo Trucks director of electric solutions Niklas Anderson says its performance also depends on the weather.
Batteries are also becoming increasingly more energy-dense at a faster rate, Anderson says, with a new version of Volvo Trucks’ EV batteries offering two times the power as a debut version released in 2019 without any increase in weight or size.
As entities such as QuantumScape Corp. (NYSE: QS) continue to push the envelope regarding what is possible in the vehicle battery space, we are bound to see even more huge vehicles powered by electricity in different industries.
About GreenCarStocks
GreenCarStocks (“GCS”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on electric vehicles (“EVs”) and the green energy sector. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, GCS is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, GCS brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. GCS is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
To receive SMS alerts from GreenCarStocks, text “Green” to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.GreenCarStocks.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the GreenCarStocks website applicable to all content provided by GCS, wherever published or re-published: https://www.GreenCarStocks.com/Disclaimer
GreenCarStocks
Los Angeles, CA
www.GreenCarStocks.com
310.299.1717 Office
[email protected]
GreenCarStocks is powered by IBN
