New all-electric equipment unveiled

The launch represents another significant step on the company’s journey towards offering an electric version of every product in its portfolio by 2021.

Stefan Hultqvist, vice president of forklifts at Kalmar, stressed that electricity is the power source of the future. “We have been developing electrically powered machine technology since the 1980s, and the Kalmar Electric Empty Container Handler is the latest in what will be a long line of eco-efficient solutions,” he said.

“We know that operational cycles differ from customer to customer, so we’re pleased to be able to offer a choice between lead-acid and lithium-ion battery technologies to allow customers to specify the option that best fits their requirements,” he added.

The all-electric machine is the latest addition to Kalmar’s Eco Range, which already includes the Eco Reachstacker. Kalmar has also already launched fully electric versions of its light and medium forklift trucks, Ottawa terminal tractors, shuttle and straddle carriers, automated guided vehicles and yard cranes.

Based on the Kalmar ECG90-180 medium electric forklift, the new machine is designed to help customers reduce overall fuel costs and comply with increasingly strict emissions standards.

It can stack containers up to four high and the electric driveline provides full torque immediately, making operating cycles shorter and increasing the potential number of container moves per hour. Fully charged, the battery has enough power to last a whole shift.