The battery market for electric construction, agriculture, and mining (CAM) machines is expected to reach US$8 billion by 2034. Electric CAM machines promise health, environmental, and productivity benefits while acting as long-term financial investments for companies.
These machines come in several shapes, sizes, and weights and require various batteries to suit their functions. IDTechEx’s latest report, “Battery Markets in Construction, Agriculture & Mining Machines 2024-2034”, explores options for different battery chemistries based on the requirements of various machines.
The ‘Whys’ Behind the Rise of Electrification
Local air quality improvements, lowered greenhouse gas emissions, safer work environments, and fewer pollutants are all advantages of CAM machine electrification. Despite these machines’ high initial costs, the reduced diesel and maintenance costs over time will make them a good investment within these industries. Additionally, operators can expect further benefits, such as faster system responses, improved control, and more straightforward operation.
Excavators, loaders, and mini excavators comprise around three-quarters of the construction machine market. However, the popularity and size of large excavators (>6 tonnes) explicitly mean they are huge emitters of greenhouse gases.
IDTechEx reports that almost half of the total emissions from construction machines come from these alone. While mini excavators may be easier to electrify, making the larger ones electric still stands as a massive goal in the hope of significantly reducing emissions. Within the mining sector, the primary vehicles for electrification include dump trucks, haul trucks, and mining light vehicles, while tractors see the most electrification within the agriculture sector.
Before making the leap from engine to electric, consider the installation of charging infrastructure on work sites and whether these machines will be able to complete a full day of work on one charge. Governments push these changes only limitedly, meaning a lack of subsidies and support may make initial costs too high.
Battery Types and Requirements for CAM Machines
Power demands vary from machine to machine, meaning batteries won’t be a one-size-fits-all solution. Batteries need to be charged faster for CAM machines than electric cars daily to minimize downtime and ensure they can complete their work promptly.
Cells that can be charged quickly might ordinarily have reduced energy density. However, with technologies including high silicon content anodes and solid-state electrolytes, higher energy density could be available alongside faster charging capabilities.
With data collected from over 200 electric CAM machines across different markets, IDTechEx suggests which battery types would best suit various machines, determined by how much energy per tonne per hour each machine uses. LFP and NMC chemistries are the main battery types currently in use as they have been popular within the automotive industry.
According to IDTechEx’s latest battery reports for CAM machines, tractors are the most energy-intensive machines, using around 50% more energy per hour than most other CAM machines; as such, they require much larger batteries than a mining light vehicle.
New battery chemistries such as lithium titanate (LTO) could be a good option for ensuring fast charging doesn’t lead to faster wearing or decreased longevity. New anode materials like LTO could allow an electric machine to last over 10,000 cycles on one battery without replacement.
By contrast, leading NMC and LFP technologies offer up to ~5,000 cycles before their end of life. A 10,000+ cycle battery would mean colossal cost and convenience advantages for companies employing them.
Solid-State Batteries for Increased Safety
Solid electrolytes may improve cell safety, which is critical for electric CAM machines. Thus, solid-state batteries could be another promising future option. This could be a crucial development for underground or indoor machines, such as underground loaders or mini excavators.
Solid-state batteries could also provide an increased energy density so that machines can more comfortably fulfil their duty cycle demands. However, This battery chemistry comes with challenges during the manufacturing process, such as ensuring high-quality electrolytes are thin enough and maintaining a good connection between electrolytes and electrodes.
IDTechEx’s report covers ten future battery options for CAM machines and explores which chemistries are available in other regions. While Europe and North America commonly use NMC, LFP is more common in China. Europe and China are predicted to employ LTO batteries first.
With the wide variety of weights, sizes, and use cases of CAM machines, LFP and NMC might no longer be the best options, with emerging technologies, including silicon anode, solid-state, and sodium-ion, predicted to be amongst the best. The report includes details on product offerings from over 40 pack manufacturers and assemblers and tables that benchmark products against different performance indicators.
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