Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), now wholly owned by Fortescue Metals Group, showcased a wide range of cutting-edge electrification solutions at Bauma 2022.
WAE used the event to show its leading advanced battery and energy storage technology, which have been specifically developed for the rugged use cases of mining and other off-highway applications.
Held in Munich from 24-30 October, Bauma is the world's leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment.
WAE makes high performance battery technology developed originally for global motorsport and road car programmes for the off-highway sector. Additionally, WAE is working on a world first, zero emission ‘Infinity Train’; a regenerating battery electric iron ore train project which will use gravitational energy to recharge its battery electric systems without any additional charging requirements for the return trip to reload, the company said.
In June 2022, Fortescue announced a partnership with Liebherr, who will be developing and supplying green mining haul trucks (using the T264) in which zero emission power system technologies – developed by WAE – will be integrated.
WAE’s technology line-up at Bauma 2022 will include an off-highway battery module. This will feature a scalable, modular design delivering sub-30-minute pack charge times for maximum performance. The module boasts laser-welded cell-to-busbar technology for in service reliability. It also has a robust alloy frame, which improves durability and extends life in service, as well as optimised cell packaging for maximum energy density.
The company’s innovations lineup also includes a battery management unit. The unit is designed for pack architectures of less than 800V. Its advanced state detection algorithms allow for more efficient energy usage, while the unit also reduces equipment down-time by enabling maximised fast charge rates.
The cell management unit allows high precision cell voltage and temperature monitoring; the DC-DC converter is a 600kW 1.5kV – 1kV stepdown model for high power loads; and the vehicle control module unlocks performance advantages, featuring a versatile vehicle system controller.
“High performance battery and electrification systems are at the core of what we do,” said Graham Belgum, General Manager for Green Fleet, WAE. “Over the last two decades WAE has garnered unparalleled experience in the development of cutting-edge technology which, increasingly, is being applied to the off-highway sector.”