Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has introduced what it claims to be the world's first real hybrid straddle and shuttle carriers, consuming up to 40% less fuel than existing machinery. The new Kalmar hybrid models meet the tightest engine emission regulations, said to be reducing the carbon dioxide emissions by over 50 tonnes per year compared to a traditional diesel-electric machine.
Besides advanced hybrid technology, Kalmar has made upgrades and new features over its entire offering of straddle and shuttle carriers.
"In designing our next generation machines, we have been guided by the port and terminal industry's requirement for low total cost of ownership, environmental sustainability, excellent usability and ergonomics, safety, productivity and automation," said Dr Tero Kokko, Kalmar's vice president, horizontal transportation.
Real hybrid technology
In the Kalmar hybrid straddle and shuttle, a regenerative energy system converts electrical braking and spreader lowering energy into electric power that is stored by state-of-the-art battery technology. An automated start-stop system chooses the optimal balance between engine and battery power. This extends engine and generator lifetimes as well as maintenance intervals.
The redesigned cabin features a more spacious interior as well as new window geometry reducing night-time reflections. The user interface is intuitive, the cabin has more ergonomic seating, reduced noise level and good visibility in all directions.
All Kalmar straddle and shuttle carriers can be equipped with remote connection and monitoring, enabling diagnostic applications with remote problem solving capability.
All the Kalmar models are future-proofed for automation and integrate seamlessly with the Kalmar SmartPort automation solutions. The automation level of new machines can be customised based on the terminal's needs.
