Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
This should prove useful for those operating in enclosed cattle yards, greenhouses and environments where emission fumes might be a problem.
Said to offer a maximum lift capacity of 2.5 tonnes, reducing to 2 tonnes at the maximum lift height of 6 metres, the MLT 625e follows on from the construction version shown at last year’s Bauma Exhibition.
The agricultural version shares the same technology, with the usual diesel engine exchanged for a 14kW electric motor to power the hydrostatic transmission and a second 25kW unit for the boom hydraulics.
A 25kWh lithium-ion battery should provide around four hours of continuous use in the standard operating mode. A regeneration system recovers energy during deceleration, thereby helping to extend operating times.
The battery can be replenished by an on-board 9kW charger. A recharge takes around three hours when plugged into a 380v socket, or slightly longer when using a standard 220v outlet.
A ‘boost mode’, activated by the touch of a button on the dashboard, propels the handler to its maximum speed of 16km/h quickly, but also results in faster boom and bucket cycle times.
Offered with standard, all-wheel and crab steering modes, 4WS offers a tight turning radius of only 3.31m. Meanwhile, the electric model can work with the same attachments as its conventional diesel MLT 625 counterpart.
A driver-presence sensor, alongside an automatic parking brake, are part of the standard package. This also includes LED main beam and working lights, a phone holder and an adjustable steering column.
While the MLT 625e is still a concept, factory sources suggest that the French manufacturer will open its order book in the second part of 2024 for deliveries in mid-2025.
