Snorkel draws interest

22 July 2022

It’s not just politicians who seek power: so increasingly will construction professionals using battery driven equipment. 

As such products gain in popularity on the road to Net Zero, the need for reliable and adequate charging facilities will grow. For hirers and end users with extensive fleets, an unexpected challenge they might face is whether they will have the appropriate infrastructure and capacity available. 

Moreover, another factor to consider is the exact kind of battery that a machine has. “Lead acid batteries typically require more power while recharging than lithium-ion ones,” Andrew Fishburn, VP strategic accounts EMEA at Snorkel, tells me. “Some large machines might draw 500Ah or more which could put a strain on supplies and cause fuses to blow. 

“Conversely, the latest lithium-ion batteries have intelligent battery management systems that will only draw what power is available from a 110V or 240V supply. If a machine needs 20Ah but only 6Ah is available, the system will adjust the charging cycle accordingly. It might take longer but it won’t blow any fuses.

“This has previously made some users reluctant to adopt battery machines; but people who have taken the latest models with lithium-ion batteries are appreciating the operational benefits and many are now ordering more for their fleets.” 

Andrew says that a Snorkel machine that is gaining in popularity for such reasons is the A46JRTE 4×4 rough terrain platform (pictured above), a lithium-ion variant of the lead acid A46JE. It offers a maximum working height of 16.3m and has a 227kg platform capacity. 

He also tells me that 25 per cent of Snorkel Europe’s platform sales are now for battery powered variants. 

● Read my absorbing Q&A interview with Andrew Fishburn here. 

Photo: Alan Guthrie