The expansion of multi-scenario applications has given rise to specific demands.
The successful application of range-extended technology in the construction machinery sector is triggering a wave of expansion in other fields, with agricultural machinery and special vehicles becoming important adaptation directions. In the agricultural machinery sector, the operating environment and working conditions of equipment such as tractors and harvesters are unique, and they have specific requirements for the power system.
Take tractors as an example. Traditional fuel-powered tractors have problems such as high energy consumption and significant emissions. In the context of increasingly strict environmental requirements, their development faces certain limitations. However, range-extended electric tractors provide a new solution to these problems. By installing an additional generator (usually a fuel generator), when the battery runs out of power, the generator can automatically start and charge the battery, thereby extending the range of the electric tractor. This hybrid oil-electric mode enables tractors to operate in the field, fully leveraging the advantages of electric drive, such as stable power output, fast response, and low noise, while also addressing the issue of insufficient range of pure electric tractors. According to relevant studies, the operational efficiency of extended-range electric tractors can be increased by more than 20% compared to traditional fuel-powered tractors, while reducing energy consumption by 30% - 50%, effectively enhancing the economic and environmental benefits of agricultural production.
In terms of harvesters, range-extended technology also has a broad application prospect. Harvesters need to operate continuously for a long time during the harvest season, and have extremely high requirements for the continuous and stable power supply. Range-extended harvesters can operate in pure electric mode, reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, and minimizing pollution to the farmland environment. When the battery runs out of power, the range extender starts generating electricity to ensure that the harvester can continue to operate without interruption due to power issues. Some enterprises have begun to research and produce range-extended harvesters, and have achieved good results in practical applications. In the wheat harvesting operation of a large farm, using range-extended harvesters not only increased the harvesting efficiency but also reduced the impact on the surrounding environment, and was highly recognized by the farm owner.
In the field of special vehicles, the range-extended technology has also demonstrated unique advantages. Airport ground support equipment, such as tow trucks and shuttle buses, need to frequently start and stop as well as operate at low speeds within the airport. They have high requirements for the response speed of power supply and energy consumption. Range-extended ground support equipment uses electric drive, which can achieve rapid response and precise control, reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, and meeting the airport's requirements for environmental protection and energy conservation. At the same time, the existence of the regenerative engine ensures the equipment's endurance during long-term operations, eliminating the need for frequent charging and improving work efficiency.
Mining transport vehicles operate in harsh mining environments and encounter problems such as complex road conditions, high load requirements, and difficult energy supply. The application of range-extended technology can effectively solve these issues. By using the motor to drive the vehicle and the engine as a generator, mining transport vehicles can ensure power output while reducing fuel consumption and emissions. When performing the task of transporting ore from the top of the mountain to the bottom, the vehicle can also utilize the decrease in potential energy to charge the battery, achieving energy recycling. The application of this extended-range mining transport vehicle not only improves the efficiency and safety of mining transportation but also reduces operating costs, with significant economic and environmental benefits.
The industry collaborative innovation ecosystem is accelerating established
During the development process of the range-extended technology in the construction machinery sector, the establishment of the industry collaborative innovation ecosystem has become a crucial force driving technological progress and industrial upgrading. Leading enterprises such as XCMG and Sany Heavy Industry, with their strong technical capabilities, rich market experience, and powerful resource integration capabilities, are playing a core leading role in the industry collaborative innovation.
XCMG has actively responded to the demands of the industry development and jointly established an range-extended technology innovation alliance with universities, research institutions, and component enterprises. This alliance brings together various advantageous resources and forms a powerful innovative synergy. In terms of solving common technical problems, the alliance has achieved remarkable results. Regarding the reliability issues of the range-extended system, the alliance members conducted in-depth research and repeated experiments, optimized the design and manufacturing processes of the system, improved the quality and stability of each component of the system, effectively reduced the failure rate, and enhanced the reliability of the extended-range system in complex working conditions.
In terms of designing for extreme conditions, the alliance fully leveraged the research capabilities of universities and research institutions, conducting a large number of basic and applied research projects. By simulating various extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, low temperatures, high altitudes, and strong sandstorms, the performance of the range-extended system was tested and optimized. A series of technologies and products suitable for extreme conditions were developed, such as high-temperature-resistant electronic components, low-temperature-resistant battery materials, and sandstorm-resistant protective devices, significantly expanding the application scope and operational capabilities of range-extended construction machinery.
The joint establishment of the Key Laboratory of Industrial Artificial Intelligence in Jiangsu Province is another significant measure taken by XCMG to promote the deep integration of industry-university-research-application. This laboratory focuses on the field of intelligent range-extended control for construction machinery, integrating the rich practical experience of XCMG, the cutting-edge technologies of the Institute of Industrial Artificial Intelligence of China Science and Technology, and the advantageous resources in material research from Nanjing Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. Through joint research and technological breakthroughs, the laboratory has made significant progress in intelligent range extension control algorithms, sensor technology, data analysis and processing, etc.
These research results not only hold significant value in theory, but have also been verified and promoted in practical applications. For instance, the intelligent range-extended control algorithm developed in the laboratory, which is applied by XCMG, enables the range-extended excavators produced by the company to adjust the power output more precisely according to the working conditions, achieving a perfect balance between energy conservation and efficient operation. In a large-scale mining project, using excavators equipped with this intelligent range-extended control algorithm resulted in a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and a 30% increase in operational efficiency compared to traditional excavators, earning high praise and recognition from the customers.
Sany Heavy Industry has also performed exceptionally well in industry collaborative innovation, establishing long-term and stable cooperative relationships with numerous universities and research institutions. In the field of new energy technology research and development, Sany Heavy Industry jointly conducted application research on hydrogen fuel cells in construction machinery with universities. Through close cooperation among the three parties - academia, industry, and research - key technical challenges such as efficient operation, safety protection, and coordinated work with the range-extended system under complex working conditions of construction machinery were overcome. Currently, Sany Heavy Industry has launched a number of construction machinery products equipped with hydrogen fuel cell range extenders, and has carried out pilot applications in some specific scenarios, achieving good results.
In the field of intelligent control technology research, Sany Heavy Industry collaborates with research institutions to develop an intelligent control system based on artificial intelligence and big data analysis. This system can collect real-time operating data of construction machinery, through data analysis and mining, achieve precise monitoring and fault prediction of the equipment's operating status, detect potential problems in advance and give timely warnings, significantly improving the reliability and maintenance efficiency of the equipment. At the same time, by utilizing artificial intelligence technology, it realizes intelligent control of the operation process of construction machinery, improving operation accuracy and efficiency, and reducing the labor intensity of operators.
The leading enterprises take the lead in establishing joint innovation bodies, which not only can integrate various resources and overcome technical challenges, but also can promote the rapid transformation and application of technologies, and drive the industrialization development of the range-extended technology for construction machinery. Through the deep integration of research, industry, education and application, a complete innovation chain from basic research, technology development to product application has been formed, providing strong technical support and innovation impetus for the green and intelligent transformation of the construction machinery industry. In the future, with the continuous improvement and development of the industry's collaborative innovation ecosystem, the range-extended technology for construction machinery will have a more brilliant development prospect and make greater contributions to global infrastructure construction and economic development.