All posts tagged: heavy equipment

E-quipment highlight: Komatsu electric, amphibious dozer

E-quipment highlight: Komatsu electric, amphibious dozer

Published by skeptic

Co-developed by Japanese construction giant Komatsu and the Asunaro Aoki Construction Co., this autonomous electric dozer is built with the underwater construction jobs of the future in mind. Set to make their public debut at the 2025 Future Society Showcase Project in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Komatsu’s display is scheduled to showcase cutting-edge construction technologies like super remote control, unmanned operation, and underwater electric drive. And in case you were wondering: yes, there is a huge need for heavy equipment that’s capable of operating under water. “In recent years, there has been a growing need for construction work at the dangerous water’s edge and shallow water areas in order to respond to disaster prevention and post-disaster recovery from natural disasters” reads Komatsu’s official press release. “These are becoming more severe and frequent due to climate change as well as the impending massive earthquakes. In addition, the construction industry is experiencing a serious shortage of skilled workers due to the declining birthrate and aging population.” Komatsu says its underwater construction robots will be able to operate without …

Isuzu NRR EV electric medium duty truck is in production

Isuzu NRR EV electric medium duty truck is in production

Published by skeptic

It’s official – Isuzu has announced the official start of production for its highly anticipated new electric cab and chassis, the Isuzu NRR-EV (and I’m super excited about it). I’ve been a fan of Isuzu’s medium duty cabover trucks for more than two decades, and often try to dream up reasons to weasel one into the Borrás fleet. Based on the company’s sales figures, I’m not alone – they’re best-selling low cab forward trucks in America. As Isuzu’s first electric truck, its production start is being called “a significant milestone in Isuzu’s storied history,” and underscores the brand’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions that will provide viable zero-emission offerings for North America’s commercial fleets. And, just like Isuzu’s diesel NRR, the truck can be up-fitted as a box van for middle and final mile deliveries, a dump body for landscaping, or even as a sweeper (below) or garbage truck. In other words, the new Isuzu NRR-EV electric is designed to be just as versatile as its previous gas and diesel models. Maybe more versatile, in fact, …

Amazon puts first electric semi trucks into ocean freight operation

Amazon puts first electric semi trucks into ocean freight operation

Published by skeptic

Southern California truck spotters will have plenty of electric semi trucks to watch out for as Amazon adds fifty Class 8 EVs to its commercial fleet. The fully electric Volvo semi trucks purchased will haul both heavy cargo containers and customer package loads in Amazon’s first- and middle-mile operations in California. The trucks will join the hundreds of last-mile electric vans from Ford and Rivian that are already delivering packages across the golden state. These are the first-ever electric trucks in the company’s ocean freight operations, also known as drayage operations. They’ve already started hitting the road at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with a dozen expected to be in service by the end of the year. “We’re proud to launch our largest fleet of electric heavy-duty vehicles yet in California,” said Udit Madan, vice president of Worldwide Amazon Operations. “Heavy-duty trucking is a particularly difficult area to decarbonize, which makes us all the more excited to have these vehicles on the road today. We’ll use what we learn from deploying these vehicles …

America’s first hydrogen garbage truck arrives in Las Vegas

America’s first hydrogen garbage truck arrives in Las Vegas

Published by skeptic

New Way Trucks and the hydrogen fuel cell experts at Hyzon just revealed North America’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric refuse truck at Waste Expo in Las Vegas. The first fruits of the Joint Development Agreement (JDA) between New Way Trucks and Chicago-based HFC manufacturer Hyzon were revealed earlier today at the Las Vegas Convention Center with the kickoff of this year’s Waste Expo. Once the show is over, the HFCEV will be part of pilot programs throughout California, beginning with Recology, an employee-owned solid waste and recycling hauler based in San Francisco. “As a leader in fleet sustainability, we’re proud to partner with New Way and Hyzon to bring the first hydrogen fuel cell electric collection vehicle to test in our communities in California,” said Recology CEO Sal Coniglio. “Recology has been preparing to transition our fleet to zero emission vehicles for nearly six years … this development is a major milestone, and we’re thrilled to be the first to demo this technology to help move our business and the industry forward.” The truck itself is powered …

new hydrogen Ram Trucks will be made in Mexico

new hydrogen Ram Trucks will be made in Mexico

Published by skeptic

Stellantis will soon begin offering hydrogen-powered versions of its biggest RAM Trucks in North America — and they’ll be coming from Mexico. Stellantis expects to dramatically expand its hydrogen-powered vehicle lineup in coming years, growing from the 350 examples of its HFCEV delivery vans sold last year to more than 100,000 units annually by 2030. Most of those sales, it expects, will be driven by their commercial customers. In the US, that means RAM Trucks. “This year, we are starting production of larger vehicles in Poland,” Stellantis’ hydrogen program, Jean-Michel Billig, told German-language magazine Welt. “And development in North America should follow quickly – especially with the large RAM 5500 in a fuel cell version.” RAM Trucks 5500 RAM 5500 MD work truck; via RAM Trucks. If you’re not familiar with RAM’s medium duty commercial offerings, know that they’re the bigger, beefier cousins of the RAM pickup trucks you probably have seen. The 5500 series is, as the numerical designation implies, rated to both carry and tow significantly more mass — offering a stout 19,500 …

US Gov’t set to spend million to electrify container ports

US Gov’t set to spend $46 million to electrify container ports

Published by skeptic

Multi-million-dollar grants adding up to more than $46 million from the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will help support electrification efforts at several American ports. The Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) in Long Beach, California has received a $34.9 million grant from the FHWA to replace 155 on-site commercial trucks and buses with zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). The grant will fund both the purchase of new electric trucks and the necessary charging infrastructure to support them. LBCT said the grant dollars will allow it to continue its multi-billion dollar investments in more sustainable logistical operations. “Our vehicle electrification project, coupled with previous investments, enables LBCT to achieve a unique status that is reframing the way the world views sustainable goods movement, enhancing community quality of life and climate change,” said Anthony Otto, CEO of LBCT. Real progress at Port of Long Beach Long Beach Container Terminal, photo by LBCT. Back in 2018, Power Progress reported that the Port of Long Beach had plans to install zero-emissions cranes and cargo handling equipment at its terminals. True to …

Kramer shows off electric wheel loader and telehandler at Intermat

Kramer shows off electric wheel loader and telehandler at Intermat

Published by skeptic

German equipment manufacturer Kramer showed off a pair of zero-emission equipment options at the Paris Intermat show last week – the 5065e electric wheel loader and 1445e electric telehandler. Kramer says the quiet operation of its new electric wheel loader and telehandler are ideal for noise-sensitive areas such as city centers, cemeteries and golf courses, hotels, and suburban parks and recreation areas, where it can operate without emitting harmful diesel particulate matter and other forms of air pollution. Kramer-Werke GmbH is serious about promoting its new EVs in the French market. “That’s why Intermat is an important platform for us,” explains Christian Stryffeler, Kramer’s Managing Director. “We are also looking forward to showcasing our new generation of (electric) wheel loaders and telescopic wheel loaders here.” Kramer 5065e wheel loader The 5065e loader is powered a 37.5 kWh, 96V lithium-ion battery that’s good for up to four hours of continuous operation – which is a lot more than it sounds, considering idle time in an EV doesn’t drain batteries the way idling a diesel drains fuel. A 23 …

Watch this autonomous excavator build a retaining wall [video]

Watch this autonomous excavator build a retaining wall [video]

Published by skeptic

The robotics experts at ETH Zurich have developed an autonomous excavator that uses advanced AI to help it complete high-skill tasks without a human operator. Dry stone wall construction typically involves huge amounts of operator labor. Doing it right requires not just hours of labor, but hours of skilled, experienced labor. At least, it used to. If the crew at ETH is successful, building stone retaining walls will soon become a “set it and forget it” task for robots to complete. Robots like their HEAP excavator. HEAP (Hydraulic Excavator for an Autonomous Purpose) is a customized Menzi Muck M545 developed for autonomous operation that uses electrically-driven hydraulics to operate an advanced boom arm equipped with draw wire encoders, LiDAR, Leica iCON site-mapping, and a Rototilt “wrist” on the end that makes it look more like a high-precision robotic arm than a traditional heavy equipment asset. ETH HEAP tech stack Image via ETH Zürich. Which makes sense. After all: the ETH guys are roboticists, not skilled heavy equipment operators. So, how does their robot do against …

Daimler is helping decarbonize logistics with expanded use of EVs

Daimler is helping decarbonize logistics with expanded use of EVs

Published by skeptic

In an effort to decarbonize its own logistical operations, Daimler Trucks North America is expanding the use of electric trucks across multiple regions, including Arizona, Ohio, Michigan, and the Carolinas. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) began integrating Freightliner eCascadia battery electric semi trucks into their logistics operations throughout the Pacific Northwest last December, and added routes supporting DTNA’s manufacturing plant in Santiago, Mexico, earlier this year. DTNA announced plans to begin using its Freightliner eM2 electric box trucks for short-haul operations and deliveries at those facilities, as well. Daimler hopes its efforts will serve to showcase the effectiveness of its electric trucks in real-world scenarios, eventually spurring sales — but proving its products can do the job is just part of the equation. DTNA is also showing its customers that’s it’s ready to “walk the walk” when it comes to sustainability and decarbonization. “Our commitment to sustainability extends across our entire value chain,” offers Jeff Allen, senior vice president of operations and specialty vehicles at DTNA. “As we witness the adoption of electric vehicles, such as …

RIZON class 4 and 5 electric MD trucks arrive in Canada

RIZON class 4 and 5 electric MD trucks arrive in Canada

Published by skeptic

Daimler’s new, all-electric truck brand made its Canadian debut this week with the official market launch of its battery electric class 4 and 5 medium duty work trucks. After making its North American debut at the 2023 ACT Expo in Anaheim, California, Daimler Truck’s RIZON brand has continued on a steady march towards production with initial preorders set to open this June. But it won’t just be Americans who can order a new RIZON electric box truck – Canadians will be able to add them to their fleets at the same time. “Canada is very advanced regarding green energy and infrastructure and is a natural next step for RIZON’s second market,” explains Andreas Deuschle, the Global Head of RIZON. “We are very happy to bring our zero-emission solution to Canadian customers. They are proven OEM trucks with the latest technology from Daimler Truck.” Modernism and mandates RIZON electric truck interior; via Daimler Truck. Along with California and a handful of other US states, the Canadian government has plans to limit (or outright ban) the use of …