The battery pack can be used as a standalone unit or in conjunction with the on-site electricity supply.

PowerBoost™ will initially launch for the Potain Igo M 24-19 and offers plug-and-play installation.

- With PowerBoost™, Igo M 24-19 owners benefit from faster set-up, easier installation, and more efficient lifting, while offering lower overall emissions.

A new battery pack for Potain self-erecting cranes is expected to bring greater flexibility to jobsites, with the new, maintenance-free PowerBoost™ launched on the Potain Igo M 24-19. It offers a plug-and-play battery solution that can serve as a standalone power source or work in conjunction with the on-site power supply.

“Unlike a diesel generator, there’s no noise or emissions with PowerBoost™. This also eradicates the need to transport fuel to the jobsite and can help reduce overall project costs. It’s an ideal product for a range of applications, including sensitive renovation projects or other sites with restrictions on sound or air quality. It also means customers can continue to use the crane even if there’s an issue with the local grid supply,” said Remi Deporte, self-erecting cranes product manager at Manitowoc.

Once connected, PowerBoost™ can install and erect the crane and deliver up to two working days of power. It has 16 kWh Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries with an input rating of 230 V and a current range of 10 A to 16 A. Output is 230 V and up to 32 A.

Fast charging is possible too, taking just 2.00 hours and 15 minutes to go from 50 per cent to 85 per cent capacity when using a 16 A power supply.

Depending on the jobsite and local setup, customers can choose how and when they use PowerBoost™. For example, if used as a standalone source for lifting operations only, it can deliver an 8-hour workday with 50 load cycles. Alternatively, customers can use PowerBoost™ for set-up and tear-down, in which case it can perform these tasks twice on a single charge, including commissioning the crane. PowerBoost™ can be attached during transport and drive the crane when it is positioned via remote control.

If PowerBoost™ is used in conjunction with the local, on-site electricity supply, the two work together to regularly recharge the batteries, and the crane uses minimal grid power for better efficiency and cost savings.