John Deere takes a stand:
The future is electric
It’s no longer just a concept – it’s now a clear trend in forestry. The forest machines of the future will be powered by electricity. John Deere presented its solution at Elmia Wood 2009.
John Deere had no new machine to present but it did exhibit a diesel engine connected to a generator, which in turn powered a transfer box for the wheels. Using a transfer box means that the new powertrain can be used in existing forest machines.
John Deere is also developing a version with electric motors in the machine’s wheel hubs.
“The technology was developed by John Deere in the US for contractor machines,” explains John Deere’s head of communications, Timo Salomaa. “It is a concept in a forestry context but is a developed product for other types of machines.”
No decision has been taken as to when the electric power concept will be launched for forest machines but the message at Elmia Wood was that John Deere has the technology already developed and will be able to supply it when the demand comes.
The development is necessary for several reasons. Energy costs will rise and legislation on emissions is becoming increasingly restrictive. There is only one route to take, and that is to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
Salomaa says that the system presented at Elmia Wood can reduce fuel consumption by 15 to 25 percent at a constant engine speed. As well, the powertrain is simpler mechanically, which cuts maintenance costs and increases machine availability. Because the technology is based on a generator which in turn powers the electric motors, there are basically no limits to what kind of engine will in future provide the power.