Kalmar sells electric reach stackers in China: 45-ton ERG450 orders from Mongolia to Hong Kong

electrek.co

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

Kalmar has announced four new orders for its 45-ton ERG450 electric reach stackers in China, including customers in Mongolia, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The machines are built at Kalmar's Shanghai plant and use next-generation lithium-ion battery packs for better energy density and faster charging compared to lead-acid or diesel alternatives. The company says the units also use at least 50% recycled steel and a new counterweight made from naturally heavy, low-emission materials to reduce embedded carbon costs. These orders mark a push into the Chinese market for Kalmar, which already sells electric heavy machinery in Western markets. The ERG450 offers up to 45 tons of lifting capacity with less noise and lower maintenance than diesel equivalents. The shift to lithium-ion batteries gives these machines a bigger advantage over diesel in terms of uptime and operating cost, especially with DC fast charging capability. For port operators and logistics fleets looking to cut emissions, this is a concrete example of heavy equipment electrification moving beyond prototypes into real sales.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Kalmar selling 45 ton electric reach stackers in China is a good sign for heavy equipment electrification. The lithium ion battery upgrade over lead acid is the real story here. Faster charging and better thermal stability matter more in port ops than the headline tonnage.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Four units is a start but not a flood. The interesting part is the battery swap from lead acid to li ion. That changes the duty cycle for port operators. Still, I want to see what the charging infrastructure looks like at these sites. DC fast charging for 45 ton machines is not trivial.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The recycled steel and alternative counterweight materials are a nice touch for embedded carbon. But the main win is displacing diesel in port operations where particulate matter is a real health issue. Four units is small but it shows the market is there.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting that China's port electrification push is partly driven by local air quality regulations, not just carbon targets. The li ion battery upgrade makes these machines more viable for multi shift operations. If Kalmar can scale production at that Shanghai plant, this could become a real diesel replacement play.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

The recycled steel and alternative counterweight are interesting from a manufacturing carbon cost angle. But the real test is total cost of ownership versus diesel in a port environment. If the li ion packs last through a full shift and charge during breaks, the math works. If not, operators will stick with diesel.