Kalmar, a brand under Cargotec, has recently received a significant order from DP World for their latest innovation, the ‘Electric Straddle Carrier’ Charge Family. This order includes eight fully electric Kalmar straddle carriers equipped with high-energy batteries, to be deployed at DP World’s London Gateway logistics hub.
For those unfamiliar with straddle carriers, they are commonly used in cargo-handling operations at airports and shipping ports, such as the London Gateway logistics hub. The ‘Charge Family’ introduced by Kalmar encompasses various battery technologies, charging solutions, and software, aiming to support operators in transitioning to decarbonized operations in both manual and automated terminals.
The battery options offered by Kalmar include variants that can run continuously for up to four hours, with a charging time of 45 to 50 minutes. There is also a fast-charging option, which can be fully charged in just five to six minutes, but provides a shorter operating time of up to 50 minutes.
In addition to the battery choices, Kalmar provides two charging options: a standard CCS interface and an optional FastCharge technology utilizing a pantograph to charge the onboard battery. The company also offers charging optimization software to improve efficiency at the charging stations by automatically assigning charging tasks to operators. Furthermore, Kalmar offers fleet optimization software and the “Insight Energy Module,” providing visibility over battery charging status, energy utilization, and charging performance indicators.
The delivery of the eight electric straddle carriers with high-energy batteries is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024. These vehicles will be capable of operating for up to four hours on a single charge. Notably, the infrastructure at the yard does not require major modifications as the charging stations will be situated in parking areas outside the operational hotspots. Moreover, the straddle carriers will be equipped with a standard CCS2 charging interface compatible with any commercial charging station. DP World plans to install two Kalmar FastCharge charging stations in the yard area to facilitate topping up the machines’ batteries during shifts.
Mikko Mononen, the Vice President of Sales Management and Horizontal Transportation at Kalmar, expressed that their new high-energy battery technology was developed based on customer demand for a battery-based solution aligned with their operational patterns. He mentioned their longstanding collaboration with DP World London Gateway, stating that the terminal has been piloting a fully electric straddle carrier since 2018. This successful project has highlighted the viability of fully electric machines as the next optimal step in the terminal’s journey towards decarbonization.
Notably, Kalmar made headlines in 2018 when they partnered with Lufthansa to introduce a 700 kW electric tug at Frankfurt Airport. Prior to that, the company had announced their ambitious plan to offer electric variants of their entire fleet by 2021.
