Day: 17 March 2020

Stöcklin Logistik AG has developed what it claims is the world’s first lithium-ion battery for use in explosion-protected areas. Now warehouse trucks for zones 1 (2G) and 21 (2D) can be equipped with these LiTex while they can be charged in Ex Zone 1/21 without danger.

Lithium-ion batteries have long been considered dangerous and liable to trigger fires, which has thus far made their use in explosion-protected areas unthinkable, despite their considerable advantages over conventional batteries. In the development of the LiTex battery, safety was therefore paramount.

“Safety is the overriding directive,” stresses Jörg Backhaus, ATEX representative at Stöcklin Logistik AG and developer of the explosion-protected battery. “From the selection of the battery cells (LiFePO4) and their arrangement to the active balancing and the high level of thermal safety, numerous factors were taken into account in order to guarantee flawless functionality.”

Following the type approval test in December 2019, authorization is now in place for the patented battery, which is guaranteed for problem-free use in gas (zone 1) and dusty atmospheres (zone 21). Thanks to both the flameproof battery housing and the pressurized enclosure in which the charger is housed, the battery can be charged in hazardous areas, which optimizes the use of vehicles powered by the LiTex battery.

Stöcklin Logistik AG has already spent seven years working on the development of lithium-ion batteries, which are in ever greater demand given the technology’s success. Since 2017, every fifth vehicle has left the Stöcklin Logistik AG plant equipped with a lithium battery. A stable trend is also emerging for the still young 2020. Other areas in which the battery may be used are primarily mining, cleanroom technology and offshore platforms, where the lithium-ion battery eliminates the problem of the inevitable “decompression” for battery changes and the risks of lead-acid batteries “degassing”.

Vehicle refrigeration specialist Thermo King says that its new, fully electric E-200 multi temperature refrigeration units are now available to meet customer needs and deliver hold-over capacity on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans.

This makes the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with the E-200 unit an all-in-one transport refrigeration solution that allows customers to maintain up to two cooling zones in the vehicle and keep the refrigeration unit running without any emissions while the driver stops for delivery, break or needs to turn off the vehicle for longer.

“For us, as an innovator, the ultimate goal is to provide our customers with breakthrough, sustainable and business-sound solutions that future-proof their everyday operations,” said Eneko Fernandez, product management leader at Thermo King. “We take pride in our reputation for collaborating with industry leaders to bring in new technologies. Receiving the Letter of Non-Objection from Mercedes-Benz AG proves strong collaboration between our companies and enables our customers to benefit from the best combination of distribution and refrigeration technologies.”

The E-200 represents the next generation of fully electric, zero-emissions refrigeration units and is the latest addition to Thermo King’s growing portfolio of non-diesel solutions. Unlike typical direct drive solutions designed for diesel combustion engines, E-200 delivers constant capacity independently from the vehicles’ engines and associated moving parts, and can work with both electric and engine-powered vehicles.

With no road compressor or drive kit, the E-200 is a plug and play solution and features patented power management, which contributes to lower energy consumption, increased vehicle autonomy and higher efficiency and reliability. The unit is also compatible with vehicle’s start-stop features contributing to additional fuel savings.

The hold-over capacity is secured thanks to the vehicle’s auxiliary battery, which can power the unit during stops for deliveries or breaks. This gives the driver the peace of mind and flexibility to stop at any time without the need to keep the vehicle running on idle to keep the transported goods cooled.

Being fully-electric, the E-200 allows the vehicles to comply with PIEK standards and Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVARs) for sound levels in urban environments, and enables them to enter low emission zones, and run quiet to complete nighttime deliveries.