Railcare News has talked to Erik Svedlund, Head of Marketing at Epiroc, to see how the collaboration between the companies continues the production of the MPV.
Epiroc’s initiation of partnerships with other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) is attributable to our company’s increased focus on electrification. Electric power brings completely different technologies than those used with diesel and requires a completely different level of knowledge. “Epiroc has been on this journey for almost ten years, and, now that we are producing large-scale electric power, we perceive opportunities and needs among other manufacturers,” says Erik Svedlund, Head of Marketing at Epiroc.
Among Epiroc’s customers, electrification is taking place on a global scale and the trends can be observed in procurement processes where zero-emission requirements are constantly increasing. As a manufacturer, the transition is complicated and costly, making collaboration between companies even more important.
“We believe in collaboration and accelerating electrification among other companies. This is good for us, for other companies, for the environment and for the working environment of those who work with and around these machines. We must progress towards zero emissions and, commercially, batteries are the most viable way to achieve this change. Although there are other promising technologies, they are not yet ripe from a technical perspective,” Erik says. “Nor is it a matter of electrifying a single machine but requires complete electrification. That means we must work on modularity and scalability. That is, systems suited to machines of different types and sizes, such as Railcare’s MPV. Railcare is the first to develop battery-powered construction machines of this size class. We are talking about really big, high-power batteries that are selected to power the MPV,” he continues.
Epiroc+Northvolt+Railcare = a green future
Northvolt, a key player in the transition to fossil-free, is currently building one of Europe’s largest battery factories in Skellefteå. Erik explains further how synergies between the companies can help us achieve a renewable future.
“One thing being discussed is the climate impact of the batteries. Northvolt will operate its factory with renewable energy, eliminating 80 per cent of the batteries’ climate impact. This means that Northvolt will manufacture the world’s greenest batteries. Although the process still includes raw materials extracted from mines, this is where Epiroc makes a difference. By switching our machines to renewable power from Northvolt batteries, the world’s greenest, we help make the raw materials even greener. In the future, it could theoretically be possible to manufacture batteries with no climate impact.
Thanks to the collaboration between Railcare, Epiroc and Northvolt, not only does Railcare develop and produce the world’s first and largest emissions-free railway construction vehicles, the MPV also has the world’s greenest batteries, making rail maintenance even greener.”
