Five green Snorkels
15 July 2021
Snorkel has commenced full production on five lithium-ion battery powered, compact rough terrain scissor lifts offering eco-friendly operation and reduced running costs.
These new RTE electric models expand the manufacturer’s range of this category of zero emission aerial lifts and telehandlers to a total of eight machines.
The latest launches include battery versions of two narrow width units, the S2255RTE and S2755RTE, as well as three standard width models, the S2770RTE, S3370RTE and S3970RTE (pictured).
The battery packs are designed to be maintenance-free with built-in battery management systems (BMS), which are claimed to last up to 20 times longer than lead acid batteries.
The machines are offered as standard with two 5.75kWh battery packs, with the option of more for very heavy-duty applications. Snorkel says that, in tests, the two pack system can deliver at least an eight-hour shift on a single charge, and in some cases, up to one week between charges.
The AC electric motor on the machines creates higher torque than a diesel engine, improving performance on slopes. It also delivers up to 62% less job site noise.
With minimal battery and electrical system maintenance required, servicing costs are reduced by up to 93% when compared to an engine, says the manufacturer, while also eliminating the costs and risks of waste oil and filter disposal.
The S2255RTE and S2755RTE offer maximum working heights of 8.5m and 10.1m with lifting capacities of 420kg and 300kg respectively. Weighing less than 2750kg, they can be towed by a car or van on a trailer.
The S2770RTE, S3370RTE and S3970RTE have maximum working heights of 10.1m, 12m and 13.8m respectively.
All five lifts are available with non-marking tyres for indoor/outdoor use and four auto-leveling stabilisers come as standard.
These models are also offered as RT versions with a diesel engine, or as BE bi-energy variants enabling operators to switch between an internal combustion engine and lead acid battery power.
● I recently visited the Snorkel factory in Tyne & Wear to find out about these new machines – more in a future blog post.
