Further development of the WL20e electric wheel loader

By MEq August 21, 2017 14:11

In 2015, Wacker Neuson presented the WL20e – the first wheel loader with an electric drive. The battery-powered wheel loader with a bucket capacity of 0.2 cubic meters was consistently developed further and is now available with a high-quality AGM battery, which is characterized by particularly easy handling and low maintenance effort.

The abbreviation AGM stands for “Absorbent Glass Mat.; with this type of battery, the electrolyte is bound in a fleece made of glass fibers, making it a leak-proof system. In addition to this aspect, the new technology offers additional benefits: it is less sensitive to temperature and develops little heat when charging and during operation, which results in an increased electric power output. Another significant advantage of the new wheel loader generation is its “on-board” battery charger with 230 V, which was integrated into the machine. With this, the battery can be charged easily with a cable at any plug receptacle. This makes operating the WL20e wheel loader easier in everyday construction work. Flexible interim charges have become more efficient due to higher power currents and an improved power draw. In addition, the battery is virtually maintenance-free. Customers who already have a WL20e electric wheel loader can convert to the AGM technology, for example if a battery replacement is due.

The performance parameters of the fully electrically driven WL20e wheel loader correspond to those of the diesel-powered model, and even exceed these in some aspects, such as the tipping load, which reaches up to 1,509 kg due to the weight of the battery. If the battery of the WL20e wheel loader is fully charged, a work application of up to five hours under full load is possible—enough time for typical applications, such as loading and transporting goods over short distances in a working day. The operator can always see the battery’s charge status, as it is easily visible on the display. The modern battery technology and its emission-free drive system make the wheel loader perfect for applications in urban areas as well as indoors, such as in greenhouses, parking garages or for building restoration. The electric wheel loader has also proven itself in public facilities and hospitals, due to its very low noise emissions, and it also offers economic advantages with operating cost savings of around 40 percent over the course of the machine’s service life.

With a height of 2.25 meters and a width of just over 1 meter, low and narrow passages, and transport on a trailer are no problem for the Wacker Neuson WL20e wheel loader— however, the operator’s protective canopy is too high to pass through very low clearance heights of less than 2 meters. Wacker Neuson has already been offering the fold-down operator’s canopy EPS (Easy Protection System) for several years, which is prepared for a low clearance height in just a few easy steps. Even more convenient is EPS Plus, a hydraulically lowerable operator’s protective canopy, which operators can operate from their seat. EPS Plus solves the problem of low clearance heights and makes work much easier, especially if very low clearance heights have to be passed through repeatedly. EPS Plus saves a tremendous amount of time, as the machine operator does not have to exit the vehicle to lower the canopy. EPS Plus is offered for the WL20e and WL20 compact wheel loaders.

The WL20e electric wheel loader is part of Wacker Neuson’s zero-emission series, which also includes two battery-powered rammers, the dual power mini-excavator and a track dumper.