The global trend of electrification of construction machinery products has become increasingly prominent since the beginning of this year. Data show that from January to May, the industry sold a total of 806 electric loaders, a year-on-year increase of 102.5%. The research and development of electric products has realized the transformation of the drive device from the engine to the electric motor, making up for the shortcomings of domestic enterprises in engine manufacturing, and providing new opportunities for enterprises to expand overseas markets.
Longest endurance! On June 6, the electric tractor developed by Sany Heavy Truck achieved a single charge of 817.5 kilometers from Changsha to Shenzhen, refreshing the global record of heavy truck endurance.
Highest altitude! In a tunnel with an altitude of 4,500 meters and a depth of 10 kilometers, Liugong’s electric loader has powerful power. The electric loader can charge for one hour and have a battery life of one shift. It can work continuously for more than 20 hours a day.
Since the beginning of this year, the global trend of electrification of construction machinery products has become increasingly prominent. “China’s new energy construction machinery has developed rapidly, and has basically formed a professional technical support system, laying a solid foundation for its wide application in the future.” Su Zimeng, president of China Construction Machinery Industry Association, said.
Data from China Construction Machinery Industry Association show that from January to May, the industry sold a total of 806 electric loaders, a year-on-year increase of 102.5%; among them, 246 were sold in May, a year-on-year increase of 136.5%.
Transformation to electrification
New energy green products become a trend
Exhibitions are an important window to observe new trends in industrial development. At the third Changsha International Construction Machinery Exhibition that ended recently, green became the main color without hesitation, and electrified products firmly occupied the “C position”.
Entering the exhibition hall of Guangxi Liugong Machinery Co., Ltd., electric loaders, electric excavators, electric wide-body vehicles and other products are lined up. In the 1,500-square-meter exhibition hall, there is no fuel equipment. All exhibited equipment are pure electric drive.
Similarly, in Zoomlion’s exhibition hall, many new energy green products such as electric mixer trucks, crawler cranes, straight-arm aerial work platforms and so on appeared. The equipment accounted for about 30%.
What are the advantages of electrification?
Zeng Guang’an, chairman of Liugong Group, analyzed that at present, under the background of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, new energy technology equipment has become one of the future development trends. Compared with traditional fuel equipment, electric products can achieve zero emissions and low noise, increase work efficiency by 20%, and reduce failure rates by 30%.
Not only that, electric construction machinery also has good economy. The comprehensive cost during the use period can be reduced by 50% to 70% compared with fuel machinery.
Look at the electric excavator. The person in charge of Jimei Chemical Co., Ltd. in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi introduced that he used to use a 320 fuel excavator with an oil consumption of 16 liters per hour and a daily oil cost of 2,600 yuan. After introducing an electric excavator, it consumes an average of 66.7 kWh per hour and costs less than 1,000 yuan per day.
“In this way, just one item of electricity cost can save nearly 500,000 yuan per year for one equipment. In addition, the electric excavator eliminates the maintenance costs such as changing oil, and the operating cost is lower.” The person in charge said.
Look at the electric mining truck. He Huaqiang, director of Sany International Mining Truck Technology Research Institute introduced that mining trucks have three working conditions: heavy load uphill, flat road and heavy load downhill. When mining trucks are heavily loaded downhill, they can convert potential energy into electrical energy. Calculated based on 20 hours per day attendance, they only need to charge once a day and can save 300000 to 500000 yuan in fuel costs per year compared with traditional oil trucks , Saving 80% of costs. And electric mining trucks have fewer parts , Higher attendance rate , Lower failure rate , Lower maintenance costs .
“Although the initial purchase cost of electrified construction machinery is relatively higher at present , But throughout the life cycle , The economy of electrified products is more obvious .” Su Zimeng said , And with further improvement of technology , The cost of electrified products will be further reduced in the future .
Overcome new difficulties
The domestic new energy supporting industry provides strong support
For electric construction machinery, batteries are essential. According to statistics, on the cost side, batteries account for 40% to 50% of the total cost of electric construction machinery.
“Compared with passenger cars, construction machinery has a wide variety of types, harsher operating environments, and greater power requirements, which puts higher demands on batteries.” Su Zimeng introduced that for this reason, the world’s leading construction machinery companies have deeply laid out electrified equipment. While developing technology independently, they also cooperate deeply with “three-electric” companies.
For example, as early as 2020, Sany Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CATL to carry out close cooperation in the field of new energy construction machinery. At present, Sany electric mixer trucks, electric slag trucks, electric dump trucks and other products equipped with CATL batteries have been used in batches in Henan, Yunnan, Xinjiang and other regions.
XCMG joined forces with BYD to establish a battery joint venture factory. On January 4 this year, the foundation stone laying ceremony of BYD’s new energy power battery Xuzhou production base was held. The total investment was 10 billion yuan and a blade battery production line was built. It is planned that some production lines will be put into operation in December 2023.
“Currently, China’s power battery industry scale is in a leading position in the world. It has pioneered a number of patented technologies in the field of special power batteries for construction machinery, providing strong support for the research and development of electrified construction machinery products.” Jiang Yuwei, director of heavy truck and construction machinery technology at CATL said.
On the other hand, construction machinery companies are also working hard to overcome related core technologies.
In order to launch electric construction machinery, Liugong independently developed battery systems, motor control system software and hardware platforms, electric drive transmissions, drive axles and closed center valve hydraulic systems and other key components.
Its self-developed power battery assembly system has a battery system vibration resistance strength more than three times higher than the national standard , The system energy density is 20% higher than the industry average , Meet the requirements of 8 to 10 hours of long-term endurance for construction machinery .
Liugong also developed a new transmission system for electric construction machinery. Its industry’s first large-scale hybrid power loader transmission system with a rated load of 10 to 11 tons not only improves the bearing capacity of the drive axle , But also integrates dual motors on the gearbox , Greatly save space , Reduce costs .
Not only that , After the construction machinery is electrified , It also lays a good foundation for the automation and intelligence of the machine .
“One important basis for automation and intelligence is wire control. Electric construction machinery is driven by electric motors and is naturally a wire control system. The accuracy and responsiveness of control are better.” He Huaqiang said that traditional fuel construction machinery controls vehicles through clutches and gearboxes , Poor control accuracy .
Seize the global market
Leading enterprises in the industry ushered in new opportunities to expand the market
“Environmental protection , Economic and intelligent , Automation needs all support the transformation of construction machinery to electrification , Electrification has become an irreversible trend .” He Huaqiang said .
Some experts predict that by 2025 , The market space for electric loaders will be close to 30 billion yuan , The market space for electric excavators will be close to 75.6 billion yuan , Become a “sweet pastry” that global construction machinery manufacturers pay close attention to .
Riding on the east wind of electrification , Chinese construction machinery enterprises ushered in new development opportunities .
Industry experts analyze that the research and development of electric products has realized the transformation of the drive device from the engine to the electric motor , Just make up for the shortcomings of domestic enterprises in engine manufacturing , Provide new opportunities for enterprise overseas market expansion .
On May 16th , At the fifth XCMG International Customer Festival , Ten categories and nearly 30 new energy products were exhibited collectively . Its key new energy product XRE268 oil-electric hybrid rotary drilling rig is powered by both an engine and a lithium battery for drilling rigs . It can choose lithium battery power supply mode or plug-in mode . Not only can it meet various complex working conditions , And the whole machine noise , Emissions , Fuel consumption is greatly reduced .
As of now , XCMG’s new energy construction machinery covers nine major categories and more than 300 models . Sales revenue increased by 117% year-on-year in 2022 ; New energy commercial vehicles cover five series including tractors , dump trucks , mixer trucks , cargo trucks and sanitation vehicles . Electric drive , Electric control and other key components are basically self-controllable . Sales revenue increased 352%.
On May 28, at the 3rd LiuGong Global Customer Festival, more than 700 overseas customers from nearly 100 countries and regions signed equipment orders worth RMB 3 billion with LiuGong, including more than 200 large electric construction machinery .
"Through continuous technological innovation, Chinese enterprises continue to change the world's construction machinery structure." Zeng Guang'an said that at present, Chinese construction machinery enterprises have successfully participated in the formulation of international standards for electrified products. China's construction machinery manufacturing industry ranks first in the world in terms of scale and influence. is constantly improving.
