EcoPower hybrid systems

Canada’s Mi-Jack has been working with its new acquisition, EcoPower Hybrid Systems, for the past 30 months in the development of the first hybrid electric RTG crane for the rail industry.

The Mi-Jack 1200R EH electric hybrid ‘EcoCrane’ was successfully introduced earlier this year and has been performing at an energy saving rate of over 70% annually while also reducing emissions by 70%.

Harvey Schmidt, vice president of technical support, Mi-Jack, said: “We did a lot of work with the people from EcoPower Hybrid Systems in the development of the MJ 1200R EH. Their expertise in batteries, electric regeneration and their proprietary computer software for maximising the technology was very impressive. We knew we could both benefit from them coming on board as an organisation.”

Mr Schmidt said that this acquisition starts a new era for the utilisation of this leading edge hybrid system. The EcoPower Hybrid Systems technologies can reach a much greater market as part of Mi-Jack.

The system has demonstrated 70% fuel reduction measured in operation saving 25,000 gallons per year of fuel with NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions being reduced between 65 and 80%.

Mi-Jack is looking to expand the reach of the patented EcoCrane product, which it says is the only battery assisted hybrid system for RTG cranes in North America. It can be installed on new equipment or retrofitted on old systems.

EcoCrane has received a Clean Air Excellence Award and been placed on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emerging technology list.

The company has carried out repower and retrofit jobs on RTG equipment for the Canadian Pacific Railroad and the Port of Los Angeles. The most recent EcoPower Hybrid System has been installed at the Port of Houston.