China's use of new energy sources not only involves passenger cars, but the construction machinery sector is also undergoing a rapid transformation.
A purely electric bulldozer model SD17E-X was put into service on June 8 in southwestern China's Guizhou province, the world's first such construction machinery powered by electricity, achieving zero carbon emissions in the production process, according to the local Guizhou Daily News.
The bulldozer, manufactured by Shandong-based Shantui Construction Machinery Co Ltd, is powered by a 240-kWh battery, the company's product description page shows, without disclosing its battery type.
It can work for 4-5 hours under heavy-duty conditions and 6-8 hours under medium- and light-duty conditions, reducing overall usage costs by more than 60 percent compared with traditional fuel-powered equipment, the company said.
The device has an intelligent temperature control system that enables efficient cooling of the power battery, drive motor, and controller, its product description mentions.
The machine weighs 18,750 kg and has a drive power of 145 kw. It also has a 7-inch high-definition display, a rarity in construction machinery.
It was delivered by Shantui to Guizhou Jinyuan Energy Trade Co Ltd to be used in the latter's mining operation.
This is the latest effort by China to increase the use of new energy sources.
In a list of vehicles released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on May 14, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science And Technology, SANY Heavy Industry and Aerosun Corporation were each selected for two fuel cell heavy-duty truck models. Among them, SANY and Aerosun are the first time to enter the list.
At present, the number of heavy trucks in China has exceeded 8.5 million, and the number of construction machinery has also exceeded 8 million. If all of these vehicles were to use clean energy, it could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 900 million tons/year, accounting for nearly 9 percent of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions, experts cited by Shanghai Securities News late last month said.
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