John Deere Power Systems (JDPS) is investing in diversified solutions to help its customers meet varied sustainability and efficiency goals.
As a global manufacturer, JDPS is carefully analyzing regional application differences and how they impact the adoption of renewable fuels as well as hybrid and battery electric solutions.
The off-highway equipment market continues to evolve when it comes to how it is approaching sustainability. A challenge as complicated as efficiently powering most important industries requires proven expertise and a commitment to testing and investing in the right solutions.
“John Deere is developing technologies that not only meet today’s needs but also anticipate the challenges our industry will face in this next era,” said Nick Block, Director of Global Marketing and Sales of JDPS.
“The demand for sustainable, efficient power solutions is increasing, and we’re committed to meeting that demand with a diverse portfolio of technologies that address these evolving needs. We believe the future of power is not defined by a single solution but by a range of options that empower our customers to choose the best fit for their operations.”
Electrified options
In 2022, Deere acquired a majority ownership in Kreisel Electric, a battery technology provider based in Austria. Kreisel develops high-density, high-durability electric battery modules and packs.
The following joint partnership between the two companies has led to several innovations for powering off-road equipment, including a prototype battery pack designed for seamless integration with off-highway machinery.
The prototype battery features a flexible, modular architecture and Kreisel’s patented immersion cooling technology, which provides active thermal management for optimal performance, safety and lifespan.
With a focus on meeting the evolving needs of customers across equipment segments and applications, Deere is engineering highly energy-dense batteries that deliver significant power. Kreisel battery technology is actively being used in the field across a range of applications and industries, including, agriculture, road building, construction, on-road and marine.
At bauma in April, JDPS displayed its 60 kilowatt-hour KBP63 battery pack. Compared to the previous 60 kwh battery displayed at bauma in 2022, the KBP63 delivers the same power but in a much smaller package.
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“One of the things we’re continuing to learn in our joint venture with Kreisel is the development cycles of batteries are on a much shorter timeline than what we have in engines,” said Michael Lefebvre, Manager of Global Marketing and Product Strategy for John Deere Power Systems.
While engine development may take upwards of two decades, battery packs are being developed in as little as three years.
JDPS is also offering 20 kwh and 40 kwh high voltage battery packs delivering between 400 volts and 750 volts.
Now, the company is working to determine the ideal packaging shapes and sizes for batteries to assist the most machines.
“Different vehicles need different things,” Lefebvre said. “We’re trying to gather customer needs of all the different internal and OEM customer to come up with the least number of building block shapes that make sense to be able to work in the maximum number of vehicles.”
John Deere is also developing a comprehensive charging ecosystem featuring Kreisel’s battery technology to provide versatile charging options with both stationary and mobile solutions for a variety of jobsites.
Renewable fuels
With the increasing emphasis on renewable fuels, JDPS is providing, and developing, efficient and optimal solutions. The company’s advanced engine technologies are designed to support the use of renewable diesel fuels and biodiesel blends.
“We’re fully certified for renewable diesel and HVO. At this point, we’re continuing to work on higher and higher levels of biodiesel blends,” Lefebvre said.
“So, we’re approved for B20, and we’re always talking about increasing those levels as the fuel standards improve and as that area develops.”
JDPS is also researching and developing solutions for ethanol, bio-methane and hydrogen.
“There is development work ongoing to ensure that we understand the pros and cons of hydrogen use in our vehicles and in potential OEM space as well,” Lefebvre said.
However, Lefebvre explained the missing infrastructure to deliver the fuel and the ability to meet the needs of high-power equipment are challenges for the use of hydrogen.
“I think we see it coming on in Europe, especially in carbon zero zones. I think it’s something that will be hitting the marketplace, and we’re trying to keep an eye on it for our equipment and our customers,” Lefebvre said.
The future of ICE
While electrification and renewable fuels represent new avenues to power equipment, internal combustion engines obviously continue to power most equipment in the field.
JDPS’s next generation engines — the JD4, JD14, and JD18 — are engineered to meet the evolving needs of the off-highway industry.
The engines offer increased power density and improved fuel efficiency.
“You’re going to see a lot around renewables and reducing carbon footprints, and all of that is extremely important, but it doesn’t leave behind the necessity for diesel engine development,” Lefebvre said.
“We’re spending millions in diesel engine development, but not just the same old diesel engines. They need to be more efficient. They need to be smaller. It needs to contribute to our carbon footprint reduction.”
The JD4, which will be released in the next couple of years, is designed to excel in diverse applications with its compact size and high torque output. The engine features a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in size and weights more than 50 kg less than the John Deere single turbo 4.5-litre engine.
“This is a clean sheet engine coming out in a couple of years that’s much smaller and much more fuel efficient,” Lefebvre said.
The optimized 460-hp JD9 builds on the proven performance of the existing 9-litre engine to provide reliable performance and streamlined integration, while the JD14 boasts exceptional power per litre and an aftertreatment system with or without a particulate filter based on emissions tier.
For heavy-duty demands, JDPS has released the JD18, which delivers up to 908 hp without the use of an exhaust aftertreatment system, which helps to simplify maintenance.
“This is a whole new power space for us. The JD18 is taking us into much larger equipment, especially mining equipment, and it’s going gangbusters,” Lefebvre said.
