Cifa hybrid concrete mixer

Designing the first hybrid concrete mixer might have seemed like an overly ambitious goal when you think that these large construction vehicles normally run on diesel. But this is why Cifa, an expert in building mixers, truck mounted pumps and concrete mixing systems, asked Flash Battery for its support and chose to use its innovative lithium technology. And so another successful partnership began between a giant of the construction machinery industry and this Reggio Emilia company which makes next-gen industrial lithium accumulators.

Energya is the name of the project which led to the creation of a series of vehicles, including E8 and E9 models. These vehicles are based on an innovative system combining the benefits of traditional technology with those of electric technology. They are known as “plug-in hybrid concrete mixers” given that their lithium ion batteries can be charged either from a mains electricity supply or through an on-board generator. They also benefit from fast charging times. In particular, the high-speed plug charging system allows them to be charged in just 18 minutes through a special, specifically designed station; while the standard system allows them to be charged in about 4 hours from any industrial socket.

In Energya mixers, the movement of the drum is driven by an electric motor powered by a Flash Battery lithium battery.

The Flash Battery team’s goal was to achieve high-performance solutions working together with Cifa. In order to provide a suitable answer to the stress experienced by a vehicle like these cement mixers, the lithium battery was developed to provide certain essential features and functions, such as:

• quick charging while loading the concrete with a special fast charger
• up to 90 kW of power supplied while using the mixer
• high resistance to climatic factors
• high resistance to the mechanical stress experienced by this type of vehicle.

The major advantages of using Flash Battery also include the fact that the Cifa hybrid concrete mixer can run with the internal combustion engine off so it can also be used in pollution-control areas, tunnels or even inside buildings. In fact, the concrete is loaded and unloaded without any gas emissions and incredibly quietly.

Cifa’s experience and quality led to the decision to use Flash Battery next-gen battery technology and we would like to express our gratitude and pride at having helped create construction vehicles like these hybrid concrete mixers from the Energya series that can offer outstanding efficiency. It is another step forward in sustainable mobility to reduce our environmental impact.

Watch the video of the plug-in hybrid mixer with Flash Battery lithium batteries.