Posted on May 15, 2023
Electrification of heavy-duty earthmoving equipment brings challenges. Will an electric drive train provide the superior power needed to operate heavy-duty equipment? Where do you charge this equipment when it is deployed on an off-grid project site? Facing these challenges calls for front running companies to work together. To gather knowledge, gain experience and enable digitalisation and innovation, Van Oord, Caterpillar and Pon signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The collaboration is focused on learning and improving techniques to operate electric or alternative lower exhaust emissions machines, mobile charging equipment and manage energy on a construction site with an objective to reduce emissions. This collaboration can help support the largest off-grid, zero-exhaust emissions project in the world with heavy duty earthmoving equipment.
‘Ingenious solutions are required to keep up with our sustainable ambitions, such as our commitment to net-zero emissions. At Van Oord we value knowledge sharing. Collaboration and innovation are key to successfully facing today’s global challenges. We look forward to intensifying our cooperation with Caterpillar and Pon Equipment. Together, we have the specialist knowledge and expertise needed to make this partnership a success.’
— Pieter van Oord, CEO Van Oord
Van Oord, as part of the Mekante Diek consortium, is currently working on the Tiel-Waardenburg dyke reinforcement project. To enable emission-free project execution, Mekante Diek will deploy approximately 40 heavy-duty electric machines. To charge these machines an innovative fast-charging plaza, called WattHub, has been constructed. It is the world’s first semi-public charging plaza designed specifically for lorries and heavy equipment. Lessons learned from working with heavy-duty earthmoving equipment are valuable for future innovation. By working together and sharing knowledge, the transition to a sustainable future can be accelerated.
‘This collaboration with Van Oord and Pon promises to be a valuable learning opportunity for Caterpillar as we continue to develop fit-for-purpose charging and energy management solutions to support customers’ carbon reduction goals.’
— Rod Shurman, senior vice president of Caterpillar Inc.
‘In our continuous effort to deliver sustainable solutions, emission reduction has become an imperative. At Pon we see this cooperation as an opportunity to learn and further develop solutions through electrification, use of renewables and greater energy efficiency. We are proud to work with Van Oord and Caterpillar to further reduce carbon emissions, moving to a better world. It’s a great cooperation between Van Oord, Caterpillar and Pon.’
— Marc de Groen, CEO at Pon Equipment and Pon Power
In 2020, Pon-Cat delivered the first 20-tonne fully electric excavator in the Netherlands to Van Oord, followed by a second one the following year. The success of these machines has led Van Oord to invest in four more electric excavators. The new 35.5-tonne Pon-Cat 330 LRE Z-line excavators are an entirely new model with a net battery capacity of 422 kWh not yet available anywhere else. They will be delivered this year and deployed on the Tiel-Waardenburg project.
