Electric container truck to be revealed at TOC Europe

Hyster zero-emissions container truck  
In 2017, Hyster Europe revealed that a zero-emissions, 48-tonne Hyster laden container handling truck was being developed. The first truck, due to be powered by electric motors receiving energy from a lithium-ion battery, is currently in the test phase. The innovative, high-voltage truck is expected to help operations achieve full shift performance comparable to a diesel-powered truck in the future.  

During the presentation, representatives from Hyster Europe will discuss the different power and charging options that the electric Big Truck is expected to offer, including lithium-ion batteries of varying sizes, and possible future options where batteries will be combined with fuel cell technology. These different choices aim to cater to the different needs of inland terminal and port applications.  

There are a number of factors that need to be considered by diverse applications to select the right power option for their particular requirements, such as break periods, duty cycle, level of power consumption and charging infrastructure.  

"The Big Truck charging challenge won’t go away because it requires a high level of energy to be drawn in a short space of time, but operations will be able to manage charging through the right infrastructure,” said Jan-Willem van den Brand, Director Big Truck Product Strategy & Solutions for Hyster Europe, explaining that charging infrastructure is a key focus of the presentation at TOC Europe.  

“There are many future possibilities around charging for electric handling equipment within terminals, such as wireless charging options and hydrogen fuel cell refill, but there are challenges too,” he said. “In the future, standardised charging for all types of electric vehicles in an operation is expected to be necessary. Otherwise, many believe that the cost of installing and maintaining a new charging infrastructure could prove prohibitive.”  

New energy recovery systems revealed  
In the seminar, Hyster Europe will also provide the latest information about the patented energy recovery systems that have been developed for the electric Hyster laden container handler. The innovative systems are expected to extend the drive cycle of the truck using recovered energy, providing a longer operating time before recharge is necessary.  

“Recovering energy in a smart way provides maximum energy efficiency,” said van den Brand. “Our new systems that recover, and store, energy from lowering loads and braking are expected to support an extended drive cycle, increasing up-time and profitability while also helping to reduce the energy costs of charging.”  

Solutions for Inland Terminals  
As well as attending the presentation, visitors to TOC Europe can visit exhibition stand B22 to speak to experts from Hyster Europe and distribution partners Heffiq and B-Close about the wide range of Hyster solutions for inland terminal applications.  

One solution on show is the Hyster H11XM-ECD8 Empty Container Handler which has been designed to boost efficiency with double handling capabilities for empty containers. The truck, which will be on display at the entrance to the event, even enables handling of 40ft reefers with the refrigeration units on the same side causing an offset load.   

To show how fleet management systems can also help inland terminals to improve efficiency and control costs, the truck on display is fitted with the Hyster Tracker telematics system.  Hyster Tracker helps operations to increase driver accountability, reduce impact damage and downtime and better manage under or over utilised assets.  

Visitors to the Hyster Europe stand will also have a chance to try a 3D virtual reality forklift simulator which accurately re-creates the sensation of using a 3-tonne counterbalance lift truck in tough operating conditions.  For a realistic experience, the simulator features the same seat, pedals, steering wheel, CANBus and hydraulic controls as the Hyster Fortens lift truck alongside the VR headset.   

Hyster Rhine Tour to Begin  
TOC Europe will also mark the start of the Hyster Rhine Tour, which will see a selection of Hyster equipment, and offerings from selected partners, transported on a barge to different events along on the River Rhine. During events in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (12th June), Lauterbourg, France (21st June), Birsfelden, Switzerland (26th June) and Wesel, Germany (9th July) demonstrations will take place to show the capabilities of Hyster trucks in addressing the specific challenges of inland terminals. At other stops, customers will be able to view the products on the barge and speak to representatives from Hyster Europe, and their local dealers, about the available solutions for their application needs.  

As well as Hyster materials handling equipment, offerings from several key Hyster suppliers and partners will also be transported on the barge, enabling visitors to discover the breadth of solutions available for ports and terminals.  

To learn more about the Hyster Rhine Tour, or for more information about the extensive range of inland terminal solutions from Hyster Europe, contact your local Hyster distribution partner.   

TOC Europe will take place from 12th – 14th June at Ahoy Rotterdam, the Netherlands.