Electric drive is coming to ag, and one of the pioneering vehicles is a diet feeder. Manufacturer Siloking points out that its E-Truck is about more than just feeding; it’s also about keeping things quiet in the barn
Manufacturers using lower-horsepower engines will be facing a tougher engineering challenge to incorporate stricter engine emission components into already tight spaces. This could pose a particular challenge for smaller companies producing a limited number of machines requiring a hefty research and development budget. So where possible it makes sense to avoid the combustion issue altogether and simply switch to electric. This is one reason why Siloking has come up with the E-Truck, which Kverneland will be bringing to the UK this year.
But is a loader-filled self-propelled a viable solution? Definitely, says Siloking, after doing initial tests trialling a diesel-powered option. Centrepiece of the new E-Truck is of course the battery, sourced from Jungheinrich, which has a wealth of experience producing electric powered forklifts. The company supplies the 1,200kg, 465A/hr lead-acid battery (a 620A/hr optional battery will be standard in the UK) and the electric motors. Jungheinrich already uses the drive axle in its 12.0t forklift and it delivers 18kW power. The feeder’s mixing auger needs 15kW.
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