Dynapac is backing up its commitment to sustainability, with the introduction of a new alternative powered product platform.
Compaction equipment manufacturer Dynapac has an existing pledge to build environmentally friendly machinery.
With products housing reduced fuel consumption and features such as eco-mode, the company has shown its efforts towards creating a sustainable future in the compaction industry.
On World Environmental Day on June 5 last year, Dynapac officially launched its ‘Z.ERA’ program, a long-term initiative to design and manufacture environmentally friendly products.
Under the program, Dynapac began to develop alternative power solutions. This development has been an on-going process for more than a decade, Chris Parkin, National Product Manager at Dynapac CEA says.
According to Parkin, momentum within the industry and advancements in technology have created an ideal environment for the introduction of electric-powered products.
“There is a drive within our industry, and in the wider population globally, to look at sustainability and what can be done to reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions,” he says.
“Moving toward more sustainable fuel options is the direction which many manufacturers are taking. Obviously, one of those options is to become fully electric.”
The first electric roller is born
The first steps towards an emission-free product were taken by Dynapac almost ten years ago, when the company designed a prototype for an electric roller. Unfortunately this machine was before its time and was not widely accepted by the market,
This prototype has laid the groundwork for what would become the CC900e today, an electric tandem roller that produces zero emissions during operation.
As one of the first products released under the ‘Z.ERA’ program, the CC900e substitutes the conventional diesel engine with an electric battery pack, which powers an electric motor. Importantly, the switch to electrical power doesn’t compromise performance, as Parkin explains.
“Operators can be assured that the electric variant is not a complete redesign of the machine. It still has the same well known and trusted basic architecture, just with the diesel engine removed,” he says.
“The machine still has the same hydraulic functions and the same compaction output. We are just using an electric motor instead of the conventional diesel engine to drive the hydraulic systems.”
The CC900e also provides a quieter machine. This, combined with the lack of exhaust and emissions, allows it to be used in other previously inaccessible areas such as indoors and confined spaces.
Another important aspect for rollers of this size is that they tend to work in urban areas, where recharging infrastructure is readily accessible. The CC900e can be recharged in approximately 90 minutes with a fast charger, making the machine ready for a full 10-hour shift of stop and start operation. This allows the operator to use the roller for a full day of operation and charge the machine overnight.
Parkin also notes that since rollers of this size are often left idle while asphalt is being raked and finessed after placement, the electric configuration removes the environmental impact of an idle diesel-powered machine and the associated fuel costs.
Acknowledging that any innovation often faces some initial hesitation, Parkin says that proving the effectiveness of electric machinery will be an essential step to wider acceptance from the industry.
“The industry needs to be shown that a product such as the CC900e can match or even exceed the output and capacity of diesel machines, while being financially viable and remaining operational for a long time,” he says.
He notes that switching to electrical machinery also removes the need for conventional maintenance associated with diesel engines.
“The electric component removes the need for daily checks that revolve around the diesel engine. From a daily maintenance point of view, it will save the operator time checking critical engine items. It will also reduce the associated costs, such as for engine oil changes and filters,” he says.
“Regular maintenance, such as preserving the full hydraulics system of the roller, will still be required.”
Parkin adds that Dynapac customers can always select a diesel-powered machine, depending on their preference. For example, the CC900 is also available with diesel engine packages that can satisfy stage III, stage IV and recently, stage V European engine emission standards.
“For the Dynapac range, we are also able to bring in the latest generation of diesel engines for operators who wish to stay with the conventional motor setup,” he says.
The CC900e is already in production, but Parkin says global manufacturing has seen some impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the CC900e is expected to enter wider production by 2023.
Dynapac is also preparing to bring more sustainable products to the market in the near future as part of the ‘Z.ERA’ program, Parkin says.
“Dynapac is one of the largest global manufacturers of compaction machinery, so we need to stay attuned with the way the world is moving. It is about playing our role as a member of the wider construction manufacturing industry to improve the world we live in,” he says.
This article was originally published in the April edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.
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