Konecranes Noellm straddle carriers with hybrid engines in the Port of Hamburg are now transporting containers at the HHLA Terminal Tollerort (CTT). Credit: HHLA
The first two energy saving, low emissions straddle carriers with hybrid engines are now operating at the Port of Hamburg’s HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) and are expected to use at least 15% less diesel than their predecessors.
Being used to transport containers between the ship, the yard, the rail terminal and the truck gate at the CTT, the two Konecranes Noellm prototypes feature energy-storing lithium-ion batteries and are anticipated to significantly reduce emissions of CO2, nitric oxide and particulate matter. Konecranes forecasts an annual reduction of 30-50t of CO2 per straddle carrier.
CTT’s managing director, Dr Thomas Koch, explained: “With the new hybrid straddle carriers, we are cutting our energy costs and reducing emissions.”
Hubert Foltys, director of the Business Line Straddle Carrier at Konecranes, said: “With the new hybrid-battery generation, Konecranes is taking the propulsion technology for straddle carriers to the next level and enabling HHLA to make further significant improvements to the economy and ecology of container handling at Tollerort.”
Surplus energy utilisation
The hybrid straddle carriers store surplus energy, which is for example generated during braking or while a load is being lowered, in a high-performance lithium-ion battery. As the vehicles drive, they use the energy from the battery. This significantly eases the load on the combustion engine.
The two straddle carriers were developed and tested at the Konecranes plant in Würzburg.
HHLA aims to cut CO2 emissions per container handled by 30% between 2008 and 2020. By 2017, it had already succeeded in bringing about a 28.9% reduction.
Source: Greenport