Terminal tractor manufacturer Terberg claims to have developed the first fully electric yard tractor, the Terberg YT202-EV.
The development team at Terberg in the Netherlands took advantage of the progress in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology and developed a fully electric yard tractor. The electric drive system is uncomplicated and therefore its cost is relatively low, compared to the alternative concept of a hybrid diesel-electric system. In addition, it requires little maintenance, is environmentally friendly with zero emissions, and is quiet for applications requiring low noise levels.
The Terberg YT202-EV can operate for a full shift of 8 to 16 hours after which it needs to be recharged for 1 to 1.5 hours. The Li-ion battery has a life of around 3,500 to 5,000 charge cycles, or about 5 to 7 years, which is longer than the standard accounting write-off period for a yard tractor.
Terberg believes rising fuel costs will be the most persuasive sales argument for operators, along with significantly lower maintenance costs and the environmental factor. The latter is becoming more important for planning authorities as they consider greenfield development projects.
On-site testing of the Terberg YT202-EV has been underway since early 2012 with full scale production scheduled for later this year.
Terberg heavy duty yard tractors are sold and supported in Australia by Clark Equipment.