A 430 tonne Siemens Energy gas turbine has become the first heavy load in Europe to be transported using Goldhofer‘s fully electric E-PowerPack, marking a milestone for zero-emission heavy haulage.
The operation took place at Berlin’s BEHALA RoRo terminal, where the gas turbine was moved using the series-produced electric PowerPack for the first time on the European mainland. The project demonstrated that battery-electric propulsion is already a practical solution for defined heavy transport applications.
BEHALA has managed the onward transportation of Siemens Energy gas turbines from Berlin since 2012, moving more than 300 units via the city’s waterways. Operating through densely populated urban areas, the route presents increasing demands for lower noise levels and reduced emissions.
“The E-PowerPack allowed us to carry out the transport significantly more quietly and with zero local emissions, without compromising performance or ease of operation,” said Leon Tietz, Head of Logistics at BEHALA. “In a city like Berlin, issues such as noise, emissions and public acceptance will become increasingly important in the future.”
The E-PowerPack builds on Goldhofer’s experience with fully electric aircraft tow tractors and combines a 340 hp electric drive with energy-optimised controls, telematics integration via Goldhofer LINK and a new digital operator interface. The system is designed to provide the same transport performance as conventional PowerPacks while eliminating local emissions and significantly reducing operating noise.
“With the first practical deployment of our E-PowerPack in Europe, we are demonstrating that electrification in heavy haulage is no longer a vision of the future,” said Matthias Ruppel, CEO of Goldhofer AG. “The successful operation in Berlin proves that this technology is market-ready, economically viable and fully capable of handling demanding heavy transport operations.”
Goldhofer believes the successful deployment opens new opportunities for heavy transport in urban environments, industrial sites and other locations where quieter, locally emission-free operations are becoming increasingly important.
