Volvo Penta has teamed up with the port gear specialists at MOL to develop a forward-looking, 4×4 electrical RoRo on the Port of Ghent. It’s information thrilling sufficient to make this reporter ask: what’s a RoRo truck?
“RoRo” is an affectionate time period for a “roll-on, roll-off” terminal truck. Primarily used at delivery terminals, logistics facilities, or rail yards, these autos are sometimes torquey, highly effective Class 8 tractors which are purpose-built to deal with excessive payloads in all climate situations, plus the constant excessive g-forces related to hitching as much as a heavy trailer as much as 100 occasions in a single shift. Oh– they usually need to do that over a number of shifts per day.
Typically yard canines, yard hostlers, or terminal vans, these autos are an ideal use case for low-maintenance, high-torque electrical motors – and this newest one from MOL and Volvo is perhaps even perfect-er, because of a 4WD powertrain that provides the truck further traction on the possibly moist, slippery ramps in an across the Port of Ghent, a strategic European delivery hub.
“The technical progress achieved by our collaboration with Volvo Penta in creating the complete electrical 4×4 RME225 terminal tractor demonstrates our efforts to develop our vary of latest emission-free autos particularly for the rigorous wants of professional quality port gear,” says Conrad Verplancke, a gross sales engineer from MOL. “We’re making certain that it performs reliably, effectively, and successfully in real-life operational situations.”
The truck itself incorporates a totally electrical Volvo Penta driveline consisting of three battery packs totaling 270 kWh of put in vitality, an EPT802 gearbox, and two, 200 kW drive motors (one on every axle). A separate, 50 kW motor powers the truck’s hydraulic methods and fifth wheel.
Additionally: CCS DC quick charging
Volvo Penta‘s shut ties with Volvo Vans, CE, and Volvo Vehicles signifies that these RoRos have entry to these firms’ charging tech. As such, the brand new MOL-developed tractors have entry to each L2 and DCFC although the CCS customary.
That skill to supply a single kind of charger that may serve not simply the terminal tractors, however some other Volvo gear and autos that occur to be across the port means higher components standardization and fleet integration for fleet managers who’re attempting to future-proof their website’s infrastructure wants for the subsequent 5, ten, or extra years. Meaning decrease prices and, presumably, larger uptimes.
“The worth of electrification extends past the preliminary expertise funding,” explains Jeroen Overvelde, space gross sales supervisor at Volvo Penta. “The total electrical tractor matches its diesel counterparts in efficiency, with probably larger acceleration charges and out there torque on the RME225. Success hinges on delivering superior efficiency and optimizing whole price of possession.”
Electrek’s Take
Terminal tractors actually are a great utility for electrification, and firms like DHL favourite Orange EV have spent greater than a decade proving that within the market. And, whereas Orange might have a head begin within the EV area, there’s no query that these 4×4 yard canines from Volvo may show to be some actual competitors in the event that they ever come stateside.
That mentioned, competitors sometimes improves the breed, and extra electrification at America’s ports is barely going to imply higher working and dwelling situations for the individuals who work and dwell close to these ports. As such, new entries into this area can solely be a superb factor for customers.
We lately had an opportunity to interview Orange EV founder, Kurt Neutgens, on the Heavy Tools Podcast, the place he defined the advantages of BEVs in ports and terminals with much more eloquence and aplomb than I may. Give {that a} hear, under, then head all the way down to the feedback part on the backside of the web page to tell us what you consider Volvo getting into the RoRo market.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo Penta.
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