Perkins Engines reveals Electric Power Technology roadmap

Perkins expert Ricky Watts talks to Peter Haddock at its recent press conference. 

Its three 48, 300 and 600-volt modular lithium-ion battery solutions with factory-installed telematics were first revealed at Bauma in October 2022.

At Conexpo in March 2023, further innovations followed when the business revealed how batteries could be used in new diesel electric hybrid powertrains.

And just weeks ago, Perkins revealed much more, as Ricky explained:

"Since you first saw our battery technology, we have been working with OEMs to support their electrification journey, learning with them.

"And one of the key developments has been how we can support them with the complementary digitalisation journey we have taken with our battery development.

"So yes, there's the hardware you can see, but we have also developed sophisticated software and support systems behind the scenes. This is a similar process to our engines, so we can give customers that peace of mind that our batteries are really going to be supported in the field, no matter where they are around the globe."

The Perkins team has even retrofitted its battery solution into a wheel loader to show OEMs how this could work for their products.

Ricky: "It's all about optimising each battery solution we now have from battery only to diesel hybrid powertrains and testing how these perform in real-world applications.

"But it's when you get into the field with customers using Perkins powered products that you can really make a difference with the telemetry data supporting the machine's longevity and battery life.

For example, our specialists and dealers will be able to look at machine utilisation and charging to advise and support owners in the same way they would for maintaining the performance of a diesel powered machine."

Perkins even revealed what can happen with a battery when it has degraded and needs to be replaced, as it has developed a whole maintenance and lifecycle solution.

Ricky: "In the same way we offer remanufactured engines, we will be able to offer re-powered batteries, thanks to the modular way in which we have designed them. We will also look at second-life applications for batteries, for example, as electricity storage solutions."

Peter added: "For me, it is great to see how much technology has been developed for battery solutions and how a true lifecycle model has been created to support them."