Construction equipment manufacturers are now offering customers electric asphalt pavers, in addition to new diesel models. Although hedging their bets with the availability of improved diesel units, the firms are looking to the future when the use of diesel engines in urban areas will be more strictly controlled and regulated, particularly in Europe.
Using electric asphalt pavers will require contractors to change their paving practices to some degree, ensuring recharging options are available. For some projects such as tunnelling work, electric power will likely be available onsite, which will ease recharging. Portable power systems are already becoming available for use with electric earthmoving equipment and will likely prove equally valuable for use by paving crews.
It is worth noting that the asphalt paving sector is changing to meet stricter requirements and the increasing use of warm asphalt will require contractors to be more efficient in terms of the supply of materials to sites. These same improvements in logistics and scheduling could also incorporate the recharging of electric asphalt pavers (and rollers), ensuring more continuous operation with fewer stoppages.
Several key manufacturers in Europe (as well as the US) are now introducing electric asphalt pavers. While these are more costly than conventional diesel units, they do offer benefits in terms of reduced exhaust and noise emissions, not to mention lower maintenance needs. Electricity costs do vary from country to country but recharging an electric paver is also likely to be cheaper than refuelling a comparable machine in many countries around the world.
From Ammann comes a new range of pavers, with the all-electric eABG4820 model having now been trialled onsite in various operations around Europe. Moving up in size is the ABG5420 paver, which features several performance upgrades while retaining the firm’s sought after screed concept.
The new Ammann electric paver shares features with its diesel sibling, the ABG 4820, a highway class machine which offers screed widths of up to 6.5m. Both models have the same screed and user interface, the Electric Pavement Management 3 (EPM3), as well as control panels at either side of the screed.
One key difference is that the electric machine is 1tonne heavier, while it has electric motors instead of the diesel and a high-capacity battery instead of a fuel tank. The hydraulics and software have also been adjusted to operate more efficiently with the electric drive, while the machine has specially developed software to further optimise operation. The electric components however all proven units from Volvo Penta, which are being supplied to Ammann as part of an agreement between the two firms.
Dynapac is also offering a new range of asphalt pavers, with its novel SD 25 80C e electric model taking centre stage. According to Dynapac, the electric paver is more energy efficient than conventional diesel machines, as well as being up to 20% quieter in operation. A novel feature of the machine is that it has an electric auger and an electric conveyor, which are said to be 27% more efficient and 40% more efficient respectively than conventional hydraulic drives.
The SD25 80C e paver is the first of a new generation of electric asphalt pavers from Dynapac, while the firm’s new diesel models have similar paving specifications.
Power for the SD25 80C e comes from a 294kWh battery, while the machine is equipped with proven technology, such as its five electric motors, that has already been use on the firm’s wheeled SD1800W e City Paver. Dynapac says that the new SD25 80C e model can pave for up to 8 hours, while the machine is compatible with available fast charging systems. Screed heating can be carried out while the machine is connected to the grid so that the battery can be used solely for machine operation.
From Vögele comes a new electric compact paver, the SUPER 1300-5e, which joins the battery-powered MINI 500e and the MINI 502e pavers, introduced previously.
The new SUPER 1300-5e features a similar battery electric drive and electric screed as the two smaller models, all of which have zero exhaust emissions and lower working noise than conventional diesel machines.
The SUPER 1300-5e also shares features with the firm’s other -5 models and is said to offer a similar paving performance to the conventional diesel SUPER 1300-5 model, such as the AB 340 screed offering paving widths from 1.8-4.2m. Power for the SUPER 1300-5e is supplied by the liquid-cooled Li ion battery from Kreisel Electric, which is also part of the John Deere Group. The battery offers a rating of 126 kWh and is a 400V unit, allowing sufficient power to operate the machine for a full working shift.
The electric machine has the advanced automated functions and shorter set-up times also seen in other -5 machines from the firm, compared to the earlier -3 models. Advanced systems for the new -5 Series include the ErgoPlus 5 operating concept, new assistance and automatic control systems and a new lighting system.
Meanwhile, the MINI 500e and MINI 502e battery-electric Mini Class pavers have been revised and are now offered with a choice of two different battery options. The standard option has a storage capacity of 15kWh and delivers sufficient power for a full working day. For longer operating times, Vögele offers an alternative, 22kWh battery option that can operate the machines for up to two days without recharging. Both battery options work in the low voltage range with 48V. In combination with the electrically heated AB 135 Extending Screed, the mini pavers offer pave widths from 0.25-1.8m. These three compact pavers can be charged quickly and easily according to the firm. The mini pavers can be connected to a household socket or a wallbox.
Using a charging capacity of 22kW, charging for the SUPER 1300-5e takes around five hours, while connecting to a rapid charging station can shorten this to just one hour. The compact pavers feature the same battery and drive technologies as other compact e-machines from the Wirtgen Group, contractors benefit from common charging procedures, maintenance and service and spare and wear parts.