What do the terms “future mobility” and “industrial transportation” imply? And what changes will they bring to people’s and businesses’ daily lives? FPT Industrial has a lot to say and show on this topic as it joins the world’s most inventive firms for CES 2022, which takes place from the 5th to the 8th of January 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Following its participation in the 2020 edition, where the Cursor X 4.0 Power Source Concept was presented, FPT Industrial has taken that inspiration and turned it into concept solutions that combine open innovation, electrification, and the inclusion of start-ups to design its energy transition path. In keeping with this philosophy, the brand’s new 2200 sq ft stand (booth #9643 North Hall) is organised into four Innovation Areas devoted to the most recent initiatives for its on-road, off-road, maritime, and power generation engines and systems.
FPT Industrial shares its exhibition space with the start-ups that contributed to the creation of the showcased ideas, demonstrating the company’s commitment to continual innovation and taking solutions to the next level.
On-Road Innovation Zone — Commercial transportation is powered by electricity
With a comprehensive range of new solutions, FPT Industrial is responding to the critical concerns of transportation sustainability, energy transition, and CO2 emission reduction.
FPT Industrial is showing two e-axles and a battery pack with a Battery Management System designed to fit customer demands at CES 2022, in accordance with its multi-application, multi-power, and modular range. The new e-axles, one for heavy-duty trucks and one for LCVs, are designed to fully integrate all ePowertrain elements in a compact solution that can easily house both the commercial load and the battery packs. They will provide outstanding performance and reliability depending on the mission application.
The integrated electric axle is designed for heavy-duty, articulated 44-ton GVW 4×2 / 6×2 vehicles (Gross Vehicle Weight). The e-axle for HCVs (Heavy Commercial Vehicles – Class 8 Trucks) has been developed through a collaboration between Nikola, IVECO, and FPT Industrial for the Nikola Tre BEV version, and it delivers high performance (840 kW) and great economy (Battery Electric Vehicle). Pre-series Nikola Tre BEVs were delivered in December 2021 for use on public roads hauling client freight, with production set to begin in 2022. The HCV e-axle from FPT Industrial is also used in the recently unveiled FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) prototype of the Nikola Tre FCEV, which is set to begin production in Ulm (Germany) in late 2023. FPT Industrial’s high-performance, dependable, and high-quality ePowertrain lineup is rounded out with cutting-edge energy storage and management systems.
FPT Industrial has begun internal battery pack development and production in conjunction with Microvast, a Texas-based firm and market leader in ultra-fast charging, long-life battery power systems. The 37 kWh version on show at CES 2022 is a small design for light commercial vehicle and minibus applications, with a multipack option for both goods and people transport missions.
Thanks to the acquisition of Potenza Technology, FPT Industrial’s commitment to high-performance and dependable electrification solutions is complemented by its portfolio of cutting-edge Battery Management Systems, which can be customised to acquire the longest battery life based on mission requirements.
Off-Road Innovation Area — The world’s first carbon-neutral tractor harvesting grapes
What’s new about a winery that was created in 1858 by Italy’s first king? Thanks to an innovative 100 percent sustainable concept tractor equipped with FPT Industrial’s F28 Natural Gas engine, a partnership between FPT Industrial and Fontanafredda, a historic winery located in the Langhe Region (Piedmont, Italy), a more eco-friendly Barolo cru wine cultivation will be possible.
In 2021, the Fontanafredda vineyards received the first prototype New Holland TK Methane Power crawler tractor. This is the first crawler tractor enabling CO2 net-zero vineyard operations ever used for the production of a Barolo cru, allowing an important step towards sustainable wine production and representing a ready-to-use solution for the energy transition in agriculture. It is powered by a biomethane-fueled F28 NG engine.
The F28 engine, which powers the tractor on the Fontanafredda estate and has been named “Engine of the Year 2020,” has a carbon footprint of zero because it runs on biomethane, a renewable energy source produced by the anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste, and is the main enabler of agriculture’s circular economy. The F28 NG on this tractor produces 75 horsepower and 360 Nm of peak torque, offering diesel-like performance.
The Region of Piedmont is supporting a three-year partnership between FPT Industrial, New Holland, and Fontanafredda for the “Tobias” project, which funds collaboration between FPT Industrial and local businesses for a circular production chain in specialised agriculture. The F28 engine and the choice of biomethane to power the TK Methane Power tractor, which is presently in operation in the historic Vigna La Rosa cru, renowned for producing a Barolo featured in the Wine Spectator Top 100, are the project’s cornerstones.
While we wait to taste the Barolo wine harvested with the first emissions-free tractor in Fontanafredda cellars, FPT Industrial natural gas engines for agriculture are now available, the most practical alternative now on the market to address global climate change issues.
Marine Innovation Area – FPT Industrial fueling startups
Can more than a century of expertise and technologies collaborate with cutting-edge technology to usher in a new era of marine propulsion? This is the starting point for collaboration between FPT Industrial and the Italian startup Silence, who will show a completely new and incredibly unique Hybrid Electric Marine Propulsion System Concept for pleasure and business vessels at CES 2022.
Acquisitions and cooperation with startups, as in the case of Potenza Technology, drive FPT Industrial’s innovation while taking innovative experimental solutions to the next level.
To recharge the battery pack, the FPT Industrial N67 570 EVO engine is paired with a variable speed permanent magnet electric generator. The range extender and battery work together to ensure that the electric DeepSpeed Hydrojet developed by the Italian firm Sealence receives the maximum amount of energy. The DeepSpeed Electric Hydrojet is at the heart of the groundbreaking Hybrid Electric Marine Propulsion System Concept. The boat is propelled by an integrated electric motor that draws water from the front and pushes it from the bow side, similar to a plane’s jet engine.
The ICE, a modern take on a more than 100-year-old technology, converses with the batteries, a 30-year-old technology, and together they interface with the future to create one of the most efficient, effective, environmentally friendly, and silent – when operating in full electric mode – marine propulsion systems. The DeepSpeed Jet provides more thrust and speed with the same amount of energy as a prop system while using less. Because transmissions and axles are no longer required, there is more usable space onboard, allowing shipyards to maximise boat design and internal arrangement.
The DeepSpeed Jet can be installed directly beneath the hull or as a sterndrive. Boat propulsion configurations can be customised based on their intended use by varying the number and size of battery packs and generators: a primarily electric set-up is preferable for short-distance trips, whereas long-distance usage will necessitate more generators and fewer batteries, as the electric motor is powered by the ICE during this type of navigation. FPT Industrial and Sealence are also working on a new generation of marine batteries with fireproof and safe filling technology.
Power Generation Innovation Area — Providing farmers with power and freedom
Renewable energy sources are warmly welcomed. Is this even possible? Thanks to the Smart Hybrid Hub powered by FPT Industrial, the world’s first variable speed low-pressure natural gas hybrid, multi-mode, 100 percent FPT Industrial Genset concept, it most certainly will be for farmers.
This ground-breaking system is based on the F28 variable-speed, low-pressure methane engine for Power Generation, which runs on biomethane produced by anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste and cattle slurry.
Depending on the mission profile, the engine is connected to an FPT Industrial Hybrid Control Management system, which has an open configuration with batteries and inverter equivalent. The goal is to build a circular economy that is both sustainable and carbon-neutral, allowing farmers to become “Energy Independent” from fossil fuels while also generating extra revenue streams from biomethane surplus sales.
Bennamann Ltd., a fast-growing British agricultural technology firm in the field of clean energy specialising in the delivery and manufacture of net-zero biomethane from organic waste, is FPT Industrial’s project partner. The biomethane produced on-site can also be used to power natural gas-powered tractors and cars, such as the FPT Industrial-powered 2022 “Sustainable Tractor of the Year” New Holland T6.180 Methane Power, while the excess electricity and biogas can be supplied into the national grid.
Visitors may look “within” the Genset concept and, through the LED walls, observe the virtuous cycle that begins with agricultural output, progresses through energy generation, and finally meets all of the farm’s and external users’ energy needs.
With three major operation modes, the hybrid multi-mode Genset design can suit a variety of customer needs. The Boosting mode, which is designed for peak shaving with high load responsiveness, has the engine running at full steam and the battery pack stepping in to provide an extra buffer to meet the required energy peaks. The Touring model prioritises the overall system’s longevity, with the engine and battery pack operating alternately to maximise efficiency and extend the life of both components. The full-electric Eco mode is meant to save fuel consumption, and owing to the modular battery packs, its autonomy at low loads can be extended.
In comparison to typical gensets, the FPT Industrial Smart Hybrid Hub Genset idea provides a broader power range with a standard rating of 30-40-60-80 kVA with just one generator, up to 20% reduced fuel consumption, -22 percent engine displacement, and 2.5 times longer oil change intervals.
