RUTHMANN prepares itself and its customers for the future. As early as April 2019, the manufacturer of aerial working platforms will present the first complete electric STEIGER®. The RUTHMANN AMPERO TBR 250 E will be presented live during the bauma 2019 in Munich.
The E-STEIGER® can do everything the proven RUTHMANN STEIGER® TBR 250 HV5 also can, but by means of a complete electric drive. Driving and working at height emission-free and in a quiet way will no longer cause problems. Thereby, the RUTHMANN customers have the possibility for example to begin to work early in the morning or in the city during the opening hours without disturbing the residents or pedestrians. Even working in closed spaces emission-free is also possible.
Project Manager Thomas Vilain describes the challenge as follows: “It is a steep way from the idea to the completion of the E-STEIGER”. “During the IAA 2018, it was confirmed that not any series manufacturers offer vehicles with electric drive in this weight class. Furthermore, not any series manufacturers will in the future authorize access to its batteries for external consumers,” he explains. “Our search was concentrated on companies modifying combustion engines to electric drives”.
After comprehensive research and technical discussions, RUTHMANN has chosen a development partner. “We have found a competent partner in the vehicle conversion company ORTEN Electric-Trucks having together with its partner EFA-S a considerable experience in the modification of Sprinter chassis”, says Thomas Vilain.
After the STEIGER® has already been completely assembled by RUTHMANN, it will currently be modified by the company Orten in Wittlich in order to be on time for the bauma. As first manufacturer of aerial working platform, RUTHMANN offers a unique concept of electric drive: The traction battery of the Sprinter is simultaneously used for driving the Steiger. Therefore it requires only one charging device for the complete machine.
The charging time by means of a 380 V charging station with 22KW amounts to maximum 4 hours depending on the size of the battery. Even common 230 V sockets can also be employed for charging. The AMPERO TBR 250 E can then be charged on working site by the customer.
The battery capacity lasts for a complete working day with for example 100 kilometres in urban traffic plus approximately 30 working cycles corresponding to a continuous operation of the STEIGER® of 4 hours.
RUTHMANN has in advance and confidentially presented the project “E-STEIGER®” to its long-standing customer GERKEN from Düsseldorf who was immediately deeply impressed by this idea. Christian Gerken is aware of the concerns of his customers. Lots of companies and municipalities work in filled city centres and are afraid of being restricted through ban on diesel vehicles in the future. In order to enable flexible working conditions for its customers and in order to save the environment, Christian Gerken made a quick decision and bought the first RUTHMANN AMPERO TBR 250 E.
Thereby, Gerken is once again a forerunner and he will be able from June to rent exclusively to his customers the innovative electric STEIGER® AMPERO TBR 250 E.
