The dawn of a new era

Whether airside, on a construction site, or in agriculture, DEUTZ has the right engine for every customer and every application. The Company presented its innovative drive solutions at the DEUTZ DAYS in November 2021. Customers, analysts, investors, and journalists were all invited to learn about and test new solutions during the four-day trade event.

The focus of the event was on carbon-neutral drive systems for off-highway applications. DEUTZ is pressing ahead with the switch to green drive technologies to help achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement. “At DEUTZ, we know how new technologies are making engines better, cleaner, and more efficient. As a leading innovator in our industry, we are shaping the dawn of a new era of sustainable drive technologies,” says Dr. Ing. Markus Müller, Chief Technology Officer at DEUTZ.

First all-electric crawler crane unveiled

Making its debut was the CC 1485, the first crane by Japanese manufacturer Maeda to be equipped with an electric drive from DEUTZ. The vehicle is fitted with a 360-volt drive powered by a lithium-ion battery. With an output of 40 kW, this zero-emission construction-site vehicle has a load capacity of six tonnes. DEUTZ plans to enter full production as early as 2023. “Environmentally friendly construction sites are now a reality, not a distant dream. The CC 1485 is already fully functional. Our electric drive is quiet, efficient, and emission-free, even when used on a building site,” says Müller.

Power supply infrastructure is key when it comes to using green drive systems, which is why DEUTZ is developing and manufacturing not only drive systems but also rapid-charging stations such as the Powertree from E-DEUTZ. Installed in a robust container, the Powertree can easily be transported to where it is needed for easy charging of electric construction vehicles. Thanks to its charging capacity of up to 150 kW it can rapidly charge equipment during the operator’s lunch break.

By acquiring a stake in the company, DEUTZ is taking the next step in its sustainability strategy: Blue World Technologies employs green methanol as an energy source, from which it first extracts hydrogen and then, in a second step, generates electrical energy in the fuel cell. The gensets with an output of up to 15 kW can be used to extend cellphone networks, for example. Full production is scheduled to start in 2024.

It’s all in the mix

As an innovative engine manufacturer, DEUTZ firmly believes that global carbon emissions can only be reduced by using an intelligent mix of technologies. Electric drives are not going to replace conventional engines overnight, especially in the power range above 100 kW. For these types of off-highway applications, DEUTZ is focusing on synthetic fuels, hybrid drive systems, and hydrogen engines. Its TCG 7.8 H₂ engine with an output of 200 kW will enter full production in 2024 and will facilitate the faster, climate-friendly industrialization of off-highway applications in the medium term.

In August 2021, DEUTZ approved its entire diesel engine portfolio for use with paraffinic fuels. This means that alternative fuels can now also be used to run DEUTZ engines that meet the EU Stage V emissions standard. At the same time, DEUTZ has approved the majority of its latest-generation engines for biodiesel blends of up to 30 percent. The use of these alternative fuels significantly reduces the carbon footprint of DEUTZ’s engines and raises the prospect of running engines on a carbon neutral basis in the future. By downsizing the TCD 5.2 from six to four cylinders, DEUTZ has cut fuel consumption and thus further reduced emissions while maintaining high output.