Mammoet – the world’s largest heavy lifting and transport company – has created a new zero emission heavy transport vehicle, which can remove the carbon impact of installing large infrastructure such as bridges, wind turbines and power station components.
The company has developed a retrofit kit to replace diesel engines in Self-Propelled Modular Transporters – or SPMTs – with electric motors. SPMTs are the workhorse of heavy industry, used in almost every large energy and construction project worldwide. Once converted, each SPMT works in the same way as before: transporting objects up to thousands of tonnes at walking pace, using a remote control. Fitting new engines in existing SPMT fleets cuts down on both waste and additional construction, compared to purchasing new zero emission equipment.
Electric SPMTs can eliminate the carbon footprint of site transports, allowing industries to reduce the impact of large projects on surrounding people, businesses, and infrastructure. It also reduces noise levels at project sites, making working conditions quieter and safer. Communication between staff is clearer, while work can take place for longer at sites with sound restrictions.
This solution was part-financed by the DKTI, a Dutch government program to develop climate technologies and innovations in logistics. Mammoet worked with a leading provider of zero emission powertrains for heavy industry to bring the electric power pack solution to market.
The SPMT was developed by Mammoet in 1984 and over 40,000 axle lines are currently in use globally, revolutionizing heavy industry by moving any heavy load safely, efficiently and with precision. Mammoet now plans to reduce its CO2 and NOx emissions to nil, pointing the way towards a sustainable future for heavy transport.
