Plug-and-play battery solution for Potain cranes brings greater flexibility to job sites

A new battery pack for Potain self-erecting cranes will bring greater flexibility to job sites. The new, maintenance-free PowerBoost is now available on the Potain Igo M 24-19; it offers a plug-and-play battery solution that can serve as a standalone power source or work with the on-site power supply.

"Unlike a diesel generator, there's no noise or emissions with PowerBoost. This also eradicates the need to transport fuel to the job site and can help reduce overall project costs. It's an ideal product for a range of applications, including sensitive renovation projects or other sites with restrictions on sound or air quality. It also means customers can continue to use the crane even if there's an issue with the local grid supply," said Remi Deporte, self-erecting cranes product manager at Manitowoc.

Fast erecting, fast charging

Once connected, PowerBoost can install and erect the crane and deliver up to two working days of power. It has 16 kWh Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries with an input rating of 230 V and a current range of 10 A to 16 A. Output is 230 V and up to 32 A. Fast charging is possible too, taking just 2 h 15 min to go from 50 percent to 85 percent capacity when using a 16 A power supply.

Depending on the job site and local setup, customers can choose how and when they use PowerBoost. For example, if used as a standalone source for lifting operations, it can deliver an 8-hour workday with 50 load cycles. Alternatively, customers can use PowerBoost for set-up and tear-down, in which case it can perform these tasks twice on a single charge, including commissioning the crane. PowerBoost can be attached during transport and drive the crane when it is positioned via remote control.

If PowerBoost is used in conjunction with the local on-site electricity supply, the two work together to regularly recharge the batteries, and the crane uses minimal grid power for better efficiency and cost savings.