Reducing emissions from industrial and off-highway machinery involves more than the choice of powertrain.
How energy is used during operation also matters. Every movement, idle period and auxiliary function contributes to overall consumption. Understanding their impact is the first step towards identifying where improvements can be made.
For manufacturers, this means combining powertrain selection with careful control system design. Electronics play a key role by translating efficiency targets into operating logic, commands and actionable information.
ALMEC supports this process with electronic control units, motor controllers, operator interfaces and connectivity solutions developed around the specific requirements of each application.
Start with the duty cycle
During operation, a machine moves through very different phases: travel, load handling, attachment operation and pauses. Reducing consumption requires an understanding of how much energy each phase needs and which demands can be avoided.
Idling and auxiliary loads are among the areas that can be addressed to limit energy losses in heavy-duty vehicles.
During the design stage, for example, a function can be configured to activate only when there is an actual demand. Any standby modes must meet safety, availability and response time requirements. The effectiveness of these choices must then be verified under real operating conditions, comparing consumption and productivity over the duty cycle under equivalent conditions.
Electrify the right functions, in the right way
There is no single solution for every off-highway application. Battery-electric, hybrid and other powertrain technologies must be assessed according to how the machine will be used.
For manufacturers, the question becomes very practical: which functions should be electrified, under what loads and for how long?
ALMEC motor controllers, such as SPLIFT-NEXT, enable motor control to be integrated into CAN bus architectures. Electronic control units (ECUs) process signals, operator requests and machine states, coordinating functions according to the logic defined during the design stage.
From data to improvement
Total consumption alone rarely explains where an inefficiency originates. It is more useful to relate it to operating hours, operating modes and the amount of work performed.
The NEXUS gateway transmits the data available on the machine’s onboard network to the Diaboard platform. HMI interfaces display the parameters and operating states specified in the architecture to the operator.
This information makes it possible to compare different configurations, identify behaviours that require further investigation and verify the effect of each change. The data to collect and the indicators to monitor are defined together with the manufacturer.
Measuring results
The contribution of electronics to decarbonisation is assessed through measurable results. Reducing energy consumption during operation is an operational objective. Quantifying the reduction in emissions also requires consideration of the energy source and the scope of the analysis.
Through its co-design approach, ALMEC works alongside OEMs to define hardware and software requirements. Functions, control logic and data are then integrated into a coherent architecture.
Are you developing a new machine or looking to improve the efficiency of an existing application?
Contact info@almec.net to explore the most suitable electronic architecture for your project.
