What are the challenges of the electrification of off-highway equipment right this moment and what does the long run maintain? Stefan Eichler from Danfoss Energy Options offers his knowledgeable perception
A key participant in off-highway car elements, Danfoss Energy Options is now, like a lot of the business, centered on sustainability and lowering or eliminating emissions. With over 17 years expertise on the firm, senior supervisor Stefan Eicher is nicely positioned to take the long-term view of the electrification mega development.
How do you see electrification advancing within the subsequent 5 or 10 years?
The drivers are altering, so electrification will advance sooner than anticipated. To start with, it was about carbon footprint and sustainability. Now, it’s extra about whole value of possession (TCO) and enhancing the machine efficiency with electrification. Till now, we’ve had electrified, formally diesel-driven machines, however OEMs are beginning to design their machines for the aim of being electrical. Gross sales are growing due to this, and OEMs are actually growing their manufacturing of electrical machines.
Proper now, there’s uncertainty out there. Prospects forecast excessive however order low as a result of they’re unsure about funding. By way of normal developments, all the main firms are on board however there are completely different drivers by market. Agriculture, for instance, is closely electrifying, however tends to go hybrid. They need to hold the diesel however in addition they need to cut back the TCO and noise ranges.
How will machine design change?
Standard machines had been constructed across the diesel engine, even within the mechanical construction, for instance, with a crankshaft, the extension of the crankshaft and the pumps. The superstructure of the machine will look completely different in the event you design it for an electrical drive. There’s no want for exhaust remedy, and right this moment that’s as large because the diesel engine. So you might have more room to work with and subsequently extra flexibility in designing the machine. You may as well put the motor in vertically which is not possible with a diesel engine.
“Till now, we’ve had electrified, formally diesel-driven machines, however OEMs are beginning to design machines for the aim of being electrical”
Are there any widespread misconceptions about electrification?
Electrification doesn’t simply imply a battery; it’s way more. Many individuals are involved concerning the infrastructure bringing vitality to the place it’s wanted – such because the cable within the floor being too small. So you may both improve the battery capability on a machine otherwise you put a battery on the web site and use it to cost a couple of machine. We have to rethink the place the vitality is and the way we offer the vitality. In off-highway, there are answers already confirmed in use.
What different applied sciences will emerge round electrification?
Electrification is the enabler for autonomous machines. At the moment, everyone is missing operators, warehouses and on-highway trucking. If we actually begin considering from a TCO perspective and electrify, autonomous autos are the pure subsequent step. We’re already seeing it with plenty of giant OEMs who’ve developed proof-of-concept driverless excavators and wheel loaders, for instance.
This text was first revealed within the August problem of iVT Worldwide
