Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
This should prove useful for those operating in enclosed cattle yards, greenhouses and environments where emission fumes might be a problem.
Said to offer a maximum lift capacity of 2.5 tonnes, reducing to 2 tonnes at the maximum lift height of 6 metres, the MLT 625e follows on from the construction version shown at last year’s Bauma Exhibition.
The agricultural version shares the same technology, with the usual diesel engine exchanged for a 14kW electric motor to power the hydrostatic transmission and a second 25kW unit for the boom hydraulics.
A 25kWh lithium-ion battery should provide around four hours of continuous use in the standard operating mode. A regeneration system recovers energy during deceleration, thereby helping to extend operating times.
The battery can be replenished by an on-board 9kW charger. A recharge takes around three hours when plugged into a 380v socket, or slightly longer when using a standard 220v outlet.
A ‘boost mode’, activated by the touch of a button on the dashboard, propels the handler to its maximum speed of 16km/h quickly, but also results in faster boom and bucket cycle times.
Offered with standard, all-wheel and crab steering modes, 4WS offers a tight turning radius of only 3.31m. Meanwhile, the electric model can work with the same attachments as its conventional diesel MLT 625 counterpart.
A driver-presence sensor, alongside an automatic parking brake, are part of the standard package. This also includes LED main beam and working lights, a phone holder and an adjustable steering column.
While the MLT 625e is still a concept, factory sources suggest that the French manufacturer will open its order book in the second part of 2024 for deliveries in mid-2025.
