Tadano Introduces Prototype of Fully Electric GR-1000XLL EVOLT RT Crane

Thu March 23, 2023
Tadano

Our True Mission: Zero Emissions — this is the motto with which Tadano went to this year's ConExpo.

And they are not just empty words, as evidenced by the fact that the company will showcased no less than six machines that are not just low-emission models, but full "zero CO2 operation" stars instead.

One of them is the prototype for the GR-1000XLL EVOLT, the world's first battery electric rough terrain crane, which Tadano announced would be launched in 2024 — first in the United States and in Canada. Additional markets will then follow.

"This crane will make an invaluable contribution to achieving our goal of reducing the CO2 emissions from our products by 35 percent by 2030," said Toshiaki Ujiie, president and CEO of Tadano Ltd.

This should come as no surprise, as the GR-1000XLL EVOLT can travel to work sites and take care of all lifting operations there exclusively with energy supplied by its batteries, making fully zero-emission operation possible, the manufacturer said.

Also remarkable is the fact that a single battery charge is enough for up to nine hours of crane operation, or five hours of crane operation with a travel distance of up to 12.5 mi. As a result, the battery's capacity is enough to cover an entire typical workday for this crane model.

Moreover, the integrated regenerative braking function lengthens both running time and range.

On top of this, the engineers at Tadano have also achieved something amazing with the charging time, namely that it is a mere two hours with fast charging on a US-COMBO CCS1 connection and only about seven hours with normal charging on a three-phase 240 VAC, 100 A commercial power supply connection. In addition, unlimited operation with the crane plugged into a power outlet is available as well.

It is worth mentioning that the crane's lifting performance is exactly the same as that of its diesel-driven counterpart, the GR-1000XLL-4: The powerful electric motor delivers a maximum output of 194 kW, ensuring that the GR-1000XLL EVOLT has the exact same lifting capacity and operating speed. It offers a top speed of 11.2 mph, and its dimensions are exactly the same as those of the GR-1000XLL-4.

But where the GR-1000XLL EVOLT stands apart from its sibling is environmental friendliness, with Tadano calculating savings of around 2,200 gallons of diesel and a resulting reduction of more than 24 tons of CO2 emissions a year for an average crane usage scenario.

An Electric Drive That Comes With Many More Advantages

The electric motor not only provides the rough terrain crane with environmentally friendly operation, but also with significantly lower noise levels during work, all while eliminating exhaust emissions. These two factors come with considerable advantages for customers in a multitude of scenarios, including projects in urban areas with noise regulations, nighttime lifting work and indoor assignments.

Part of Tadano Green Solutions Strategy: More Sustainability at Work

The development of the GR-1000XXL EVOLT is tied to Tadano's sustainability philosophy: The company set its ambitious long-term environmental goals all the way back in April 2021, with one of them including reducing CO2 emissions from business activities by 25 percent and from the use of its products by the aforementioned 35 percent by 2030.

And perhaps more importantly: Reaching net zero by 2050.

To achieve these objectives, the company has grouped together all its solutions for greater sustainability under the name of Tadano Green Solutions (TGS).

"In our role as the Tadano Group, we are deeply aware of our social responsibility for the environment and climate. This is why we've committed ourselves to actively and significantly contributing to making a decarbonized society a reality with our products and manufacturing processes. With the GR-1000XXL EVOLT as an important tech demo, we've taken a crucial step towards that goal," said Ujiie.