Kalmar’s EDRIVE straddle carriers are currently used throughout the world’s container terminals. The new hybrid ESC W straddle carrier will significantly improve the machine’s cost per box efficiency by delivering more moves with less fuel.

Ilkka Annala, vice president of Kalmar's straddle carrier product line said, 'The cyclical operation of straddle carriers in container terminals is the foundation upon why hybrid technology lends such good results in a straddle carrier handling system. This type of operation is very transient and has suitable positive and negative energy peaks that can be utilised to save fuel. On an annual level, more than 50 tons of CO2 emissions per straddle carrier can be eliminated while employing hybrid technology.'

Kalmar’s Pro Future hybrid technology package allows hoist motors to be used as generators when lowering containers. The energy produced can be stored until it’s needed. Similarly, when machines are braking or decelerating, energy can be produced from the electric drive system and stored. The machine’s supercapacitor energy storage system draws on the saved energy before making further demands on the diesel engine for movement or lifting, thereby drastically reducing fuel consumption and emissions. An in-cab display shows the machine’s energy flow, thus the driving style can be further fine tuned to make the most efficient use of the straddle carrier.

The Pro Future hybrid technology package includes a supercapacitor energy storage system and a VSG (Variable Speed Generator) diesel generator package with temperature controlled fan technology. The VSG system optimises engine use by determining whether high or low engine power is needed, further reducing both energy consumption and pollution.

Applying various stages of the Pro Future hybrid technology package to future ESC W models is also a possibility. Operators can use this most imminent technology on the platform of Kalmar’s proven and tested 7th generation ECS W straddle carrier without unnecessarily risking lower reliability or availability. This presents terminal operators with greater flexibility in their ongoing quest to achieve superior dependability and performance by deploying the most economical methods and meeting increasingly stringent environmental requirements.