Manitou has been busy exploring options to powering its gear with diesel engines.

The corporate seems to favour electrical drive and is spearheading two initiatives in direction of this finish.

Hydrogen gas cell

The primary is the constructing of a hydrogen-powered telehandler prototype which can initially be focused on the development trade.

Not like JCB, the French firm is pursuing hydrogen gas cell know-how which is a much more environment friendly technique of releasing the vitality than combustion.

Manitou hydrogen batteries
For the timebeing, Manitou remains to be firmly wedded to the diesel engine to energy its loaders

This technique produces energy instantly from the gas cell with out the necessity for mills to transform mechanical vitality to electrical energy, however they’re costly.

This expense is because of the want for a platinum catalyst inside the cell; platinum is proscribed in provide and so carries a excessive value.

There’s quite a lot of analysis going into discovering a less expensive various however, similar to the hunt for higher battery chemistries, the best compound stays elusive regardless of the massive sums being spent upon the search.

Batteries not forgotten

Manitou will not be neglecting the potential for utilizing batteries to energy its electrically-driven machines, and to this finish it has invested in a battery fabrication firm.

The corporate is easyLi, based mostly in Poitiers, central France, which is described as “a specialist within the design and manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries”.

Manitou believes by buying 87% of the corporate it provides the group particular expertise within the context of its vitality transition technique.

Manitou loaders hydrogen
Analysis into various gas sources is a far cry from the corporate’s beginnings again in 1958

easyLi develops and manufactures li-ion batteries for a large number of functions. It may possibly both customized construct batteries or mass produce its personal designs to swimsuit a selected software.

By bringing this data and experience inside the firm, Manitou is securing the power to design and construct its personal batteries slightly than counting on third social gathering suppliers as different producers will likely be doing.

New Manitou telehandler

Away from the turmoil of searching for out various energy sources for its machines, Manitou has launched a brand new mannequin, the MLT 850-145V+.

The 2 main options of this machine are its 7.6m attain peak and a most raise capability of 5,000kg, each pushed by a 200L oil pump, powered by a 141hp Yanmar diesel.

The transmission is a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT) unit giving a 40km/h prime velocity and it has the choice of joystick steering though this isn’t accepted for street use.