VERMEER, a pioneer in the design, manufacture, and support of high-quality industrial and agricultural equipment, recently launched its new electric horizontal drill, the D20X22S3E. Engineered for efficient, quiet, and lower emission work, the new model incorporates WATTALPS batteries, providing customers with the versatility to execute important work regardless of location or energy source.
VERMEER makes a real impact on the way important work gets done through the design, manufacture and support of high-quality industrial and agricultural equipment. With headquarters in Iowa, USA, VERMEER offers high quality horizontal directional drills in Europe, Middle East and Africa through its premises of Goes in the Netherlands. VERMEER is launching its new electric horizontal drill the D20x22S3E for efficient, quiet and lower emission work. With its ability to run off electric power it gives customers the flexibility they need to complete important work no matter the location or energy source.
Challenges in Electrification
The challenges of electrification are numerous for the demanding applications of VERMEER machines and especially for the D20X22S3E:
- Offering a wide range of machines, VERMEER wants to capitalize as much as possible on each development to simplify and fasten the electrification of its portfolio of machines;
- Delivering in various regions, VERMEER machines must be capable of working at full productivity from -20°C in the winter of Iowa or Northern Europe to +45/+49°C in the summer of South Europe or Middle East;
- Drilling requires a lot of power and all components of the powertrain have to be capable of delivering a maximum power in a space as limited as possible, to keep the same machine footprint as the original diesel powered one.
WATTALPS’ Contribution
WATTALPS’ offer was selected among a wide set of world class battery pack makers, since it was the solution providing:
- Highest modularity and adaptability thanks to a battery module 10 to 20 times smaller than other manufacturers;
- Highest cooling efficiency thanks to its patented immersion technology. The high cooling efficiency together with the complete immersion of cells and busbars enables to size the cooler at the average (and not peak) cooling need, reducing the cooling power requirement by a factor 6 and making it possible to use a simple coolant/air heat exchanger, instead of a chiller;
- Most effective heating system enabling to warm-up the battery quickly and maintaining temperature up to 2 times longer thanks to high thermal capacity of immersion cooling.
- Immersion cooling and best in class BMS
A Collaborative Integration
The integration of the battery in VERMEER’s D20X22S3E has been a collaboration between WATTALPS and VERMEER’s teams.
“VERMEER’s team has strong requirements for the components to be integrated in their machine” says Sebastien BOSSAN, WATTALPS’ project leader, “We progressively built trust in our work and are very proud to have our products onboard such high-quality machines.”
“The support from WATTALPS experts has been a key to optimize the machine performance and make sure that it will deliver at its best in all conditions” says Christopher Shue, VERMEER’s project leader.
The first prototype battery was delivered on time in September 2022. Since then, VERMEER has been extensively testing the D20X22S3E in extreme climatic conditions, validating vibration resistance, electromagnetic compatibility, resistance to dust, water, tests on a bench, internal field tests and finally real-life tests with customers.
During this testing phase, some improvements have been identified and implemented in the pre-series deliveries. The first prototype battery has been adjusted to the final design for further testing of already aged batteries.
After years of extensive testing, the D20X22S3E is now launched, ready to fulfill the toughest applications.
About Vermeer
As a leading manufacturer of industrial and agricultural equipment, Vermeer relies on a team of nearly 4,000 making a real impact. Around the world, Vermeer team members are rolling up their sleeves to design, build and support tough yellow iron built for customers doing the important work of connecting people to the necessities of life, managing natural resources and feeding and fueling their communities.
Headquartered in Pella, Iowa, U.S., Vermeer employs team members around the world, with regional offices in the Netherlands, Brazil and Singapore; additional manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, Florida and South Dakota in the United States, as well as the Netherlands and Tianjin, China; and more than 600 dealers located around the world.
We’re not just proud of what we do, we’re proud of how we do it: we put others first, we build the best and we give back. Built upon a legacy of innovation and grit, Vermeer has continued to listen to, and meet, the needs of customers across the globe for more than 70 years. We are rooted in our 4P philosophy—principles, people, product and profit—and these are the core values that drive our culture, determine how we treat others and steer our business.
Proud to be a family-owned and -operated company, Vermeer serves as a leading example of a successful family business. Since 1948, Vermeer has built a strong foundation grounded in values and led by those in pursuit of progress and a heart for others.
Our influence is real and felt around the world. Vermeer machines are made to equip our customers to do more across a diverse group of important markets including underground construction, infrastructure, surface mining, tree care, environmental and agriculture. The equipment we design, build and support helps make our world go. And our people are doing the same thing—moving their communities, industries and causes forward.
About WATTALPS
Founded by Manuel Ronco, Matthieu Desbois-Renaudin and Jean-Noël Carminati, WATTALPS has been designing, assembling and marketing modular and high-performance li-ion batteries for heavy duty mobile applications since 2018. WATTALPS has developed an innovative immersion cooling technology that has its origins at the French technology research center CEA. WATTALPS multi-patented immersion cooling pushes the boundaries of li-ion batteries, increasing their performance, life and safety. Three initial CEA patents as well as four additional patents filed by WATTALPS protect this high-density innovation; the only one on the market guaranteeing full performance whatever the climate (from -20°C to +45°C) and the intensity of use.
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