Hybrid and Electric Solutions
Putting electrification to the test
Can a battery really perform like an engine? We put it to the test in a real life working machine.
To really understand the role electrification can play in powering machines, Perkins engineers have recently electrified a 75 kW telehandler – converting it from a diesel-powered machine to a hybrid machine, using a Perkins 48V battery system to enable electric-only running capability.
Design goals for the machine were:
- 10 percent greater efficiency than the base machine
- An electric-only running capability
- Effective implementation of diesel engine start/stop technology
The machine was completely disassembled, repainted and rebuilt with Perkins hybrid technology integrated to the same standard proposed for offer to OEMs. The system included a 55 kW Perkins® 904J-E28T engine, a 20 kW 48V P2 Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and a 48V 3.9 kWh battery, an inverter and a powershift transmission.
The Pathfinder machine successfully met the original programme goals and continues to be used in day-to-day operations around Perkins’ Peterborough site.
Meet the Perkins Pathfinder Project - a hybrid telehandler concept that runs on both diesel and electricity. Converted from a 75 kW diesel-powered telehandler, this remarkable machine features a 48V battery system, enabling electric-only running capability.
The engineers for this model set out to improve the efficiency of their base model by ten percent, while also making it capable of running solely on electricity and integrating diesel engine start/stop technology. To achieve this, they disassembled, repainted, and rebuilt the machine from scratch, using Perkins hybrid technology to the same standard that would be offered to OEMs.
Not surprisingly, the Pathfinder machine was able to achieve its goals thanks to its powerful 55 kW Perkins® 904J-E28T engine, a 20 kW 48V P2 Motor Generator Unit (MGU), a 48V 3.9 kWh battery, an inverter, and a powershift transmission.
The Pathfinder concept boasts an array of valuable features, ensuring reliable performance and exceptional capabilities, making it a staple on the Peterborough campus.
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