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Pickman EV- 1005 electric truck built in China with deisgn and component input from the US.
While battery or hybrid has become the buzzword in motoring circles, electrification is certainly not high on the radar in rural environments.
That might be about to change with Christchurch-based MyFleet Rural Ltd showing the first versions of the Pickman EV. Built in China by Kaiyun Motors, with design and component input from the US, this 100% electric truck is available in two key versions, offering a choice of 2WD, 4WD and 2 or 4 door configurations.
Built around a galvanised ladder chassis and offered in a myriad of colours, the 2WD Classic version has a basic rear wellside body and uses a 5kW AC motor with a choice of 72 volt/100aH, lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries, both said to offer a useful 110km range. Recharging from a standard 240-voly socket is said to take 3-4 hours for the lithium-ion version and 8-10 hours for the lead-acid set-up.
Measuring in at around 3,500mm long, a 2,445mm wheelbase, 150mm ground clearance and 710kg kerb-weight, the Classic offers a 600kg bed capacity, a 1,800kg tow capacity and 40kph maximum speed.
Suspension up front is independent McPherson struts, complemented by rear leaf springs, front discs and rear drums and 145-65R12 tyres.
Standard equipment is comprehensive with two seats, three-point seat belts, electrically assisted power steering, Towbar, LED lighting and a rear-view camera.
The higher specification XR versions offer selectable 2 or 4WD with a choice of high/low in 4WD mode. The layout features dual motors, with a 3kW unit in front and a 7.5kw at the rear. Power is provided by a choice of 200aH or 300aH lithium-ion batteries.
Slightly longer at 3,600mm and offering a 200mm ground clearance by way of an upgraded off-road suspension layout, the XR delivers a 600kg bed, 2,700kg towing capacity and 40kph. In 2WD mode the XR is capable of a top speed of 80kph.
Once again, braking is taken care of by forward discs and rear drums, with the vehicle shod on 155-65R15 wheel equipment. Standard equipment over the Classic runs to bumper guards, extended wheel arch flares, side steps, roof racks, a LED lightbar and extensive skid plates.
Obviously offering near silent and emission-free operation, the Pickman EV should prove popular with the likes of vineyards, orchards, packhouses or enclosed environments, as well as out on the farm, without the need to store increasingly expensive and volatile petrol on site.
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With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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