John Deere Power Systems electrification and engine solutions to take centre stage at Bauma

John Deere Power Systems says it will showcase its proven electrification solutions in addition to a range of new engines at the upcoming Bauma fair in Munich, Germany, on April 8-14.

The company’s 644K (pictured) and 944K hybrid wheel loaders have collectively logged more than 1 million operating hours in the field, it said. “This level of real-world experience is key as more OEMs look to John Deere Power Systems for technologies to reduce emissions, improve fuel economy, and enhance machine performance and reliability.”

This milestone follows the announcement that the John Deere family of Stage V engines recently received official certification, the company said.

John Deere said it was among the first to introduce electric drive technology in off-highway equipment, producing the 644K hybrid loader in 2013 and the 944K hybrid loader in 2015. This saw John Deere Power Systems join forces with John Deere Electronic Solutions to “successfully design and implement fully integrated electric drivetrain systems”, it said. This concept was first introduced at Bauma 2016.

While off-highway equipment manufacturers continue to explore and evaluate hybrid and electrification solutions for their respective markets, the demands of the end customer for reliability and productivity continue to increase, according to the company.

“In response to this, John Deere is developing technology to meet manufacturers at various phases of implementation and development,” it said.

Darren Almond, Drivetrain Product Planning Manager for John Deere Power Systems, said the company is working closely with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to understand their application needs in the field of electrification. 

“Exceeding 1 million operating hours shows that John Deere has an in-depth understanding of how to make hybrid drivetrain systems work in the field,” he said. “We can use our expertise to discover innovative ways to develop reliable, efficient, cost-effective alternatives to traditional drivetrain systems.”

The OEM electrification approach of John Deere seeks to offer integrated solutions that address the interfaces between the electrical generator and/or motors, power electronics, and mechanical interfaces, according to the company. 

To accompany its hybrid solutions, John Deere Power Systems will showcase new engine options at the upcoming Bauma fair. 

The new 13.6 litre engine from John Deere will be part of the Stage V line-up for industrial and generator set markets. In addition to the 13.6 litre engine, John Deere will display its 4.5 litre EWS engine for the first time. 

“The 4.5 litre EWS engine serves both the 80 kVA and the 100 kVA markets and expands the non-EGR engine generator drive lineup for Stage V from John Deere,” the company said.