World’s largest EV proves worth

A Komatsu e-Dumper from Kuhn Schweiz AG, reported to be the world’s largest operating EV, has been proving its worth during the past year.

The e-Dumper weighs 111 tonnes (fully laden) and transports 60 tonnes of lime and marl (clay and lime rock or soil) from a mountain extraction area in Switzerland to a transport system below, recovering energy through regenerative braking on the downhill run.

The truck saves about 50,000 tonnes of diesel and 130 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

It has a 4.5-tonne 600kWh battery provided by Lithium Storage GmbH, used to power the uphill (unladen) run, and the surplus is fed into the electricity grid.

The e-Dumper’s tyres are more than 1.8 metres high and it is able handle inclines of 13%. Drivers have to climb nine stairs to the cab.

Kuhn Schweiz AG has a history of building electric goods vehicles and says it is defining a new goal; the development, construction and marketing of electrified 100-tonne plus construction machines.