Lithium Storage GmbH, which supplies the batteries and the electric drive for the tipper, together with Kuhn Schweiz AG (representing Komatsu in Europe), the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, various universities of applied sciences and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), converted the vehicle from diesel to electric drive by the end of 2017.
RECOVERED ENERGY IS STORED
The original diesel vehicle is now expected to save 130 tonnes of CO2 or 50,000 litres of diesel fuel annually in its second half of life as an electric vehicle. During the conversion, the diesel engine was replaced by a 590 kW (800 HP) strong synchronous electric motor, which can deliver a torque of up to 9500 Nm.
The dump truck is used in a quarry above Biel, Switzerland. With 20 descents per day and under load, the vehicle generates more electricity than it needs for the ascents. The energy generated is stored in a 700 kWh battery during the day and later fed into the power grid. The daily energy surplus per vehicle is estimated at approx. 200 kWh.
TROUBLE-FREE OPERATION FOR TEN YEARS
This plus-energy vehicle is equipped with high-quality electrical cables from HUBER+SUHNER. In order to meet the project requirements, the customer was offered a specific solution with RADOX 125 cables tailored to his needs. The connecting cables between the drive, the lithium-ion storage and the recuperation system in particular are subject to high loads due to their high performance. The high temperature and ageing resistance of RADOX cables guarantee trouble-free operation for at least ten years.
Innovative developments such as these should show Switzerland as a technology location possible ways to a safe and clean energy future.
As part of "eMove360° Europe 2017", an international trade fair for mobility 4.0, this project was awarded the 'Electric Vehicle' prize in October last year.
