"Electric" appears on more and more machines these days. But put two electric tool carriers side by side and you soon notice that the way they're built and the way they perform are not the same. Some machines were designed as electric from the outset. Others are essentially an existing machine in which the diesel engine has been swapped for an electric system. That distinction isn't always obvious at first glance. In this article we explain the differences.
The biggest difference isn't in what you see, but in how the machine came about. A machine designed for electric operation from the ground up makes it possible to match every system to the others: the battery, the drivetrain, the software and the weight distribution.
In a conversion, the battery has to be fitted into a frame that was never intended for it. That can create friction in the weight distribution. A battery pack accounts for a substantial share of the total machine weight, often 20% to 30%. If that weight isn't evenly positioned, it affects performance. You notice it in handling, traction, tire wear and stability on slopes.
At AllTrec, the battery is part of the basic design from day one: low in the frame, centrally between the wheels. That gives a lower center of gravity and a better spread of weight across the front and rear axles. See how that works in practice on the AllTrec 8015F.
With the new AllTrec 7510F, that integration goes a step further. Here the battery pack forms a load bearing part of the chassis, in what's known as a structural battery platform. This offers the same benefits in weight distribution and center of gravity, while at the same time reducing the number of components, the total weight and the production costs.
Under the hood, or rather under the floor plate, the difference only grows. The 8015F and the 7510F work with four individually controlled wheel motors, managed by our own ATC system. That software continuously distributes torque across the wheels in an intelligent way, depending on the situation. The result: more traction, less energy loss and better handling. That's clearly different from a central drive with a mechanical differential, which is still what you'll find on many converted machines.
Every AllTrec subsystem is fully electric as well. There's no hydraulic power steering constantly drawing energy, and no unnecessary consumers. The smarter the distribution of energy and torque, the greater the impact on efficiency, traction and the operator's experience. View our full model range.
Sometimes you can see it at a glance: this was once a diesel machine. Other times you have to look more closely. Concrete signals to watch for: the battery sits exactly where the fuel tank used to be, there's a striking amount of unused space in the chassis, the machine looks virtually identical to its diesel counterpart, or the total weight is higher than you'd expect.
Take a look at the drive systems too. Hydraulic power steering and a hydrostatic drive are typical features of a machine that was originally designed for diesel.
Hydraulic systems that run continuously eat into energy, something you barely notice with a diesel engine but that comes straight off the range of an electric machine. Maintenance on a converted machine also tends to remain based on the original diesel architecture, with all the hydraulics that go with it: extra fluids, extra components, extra service intervals.
Credit where credit is due: a conversion has its advantages too. The underlying design sometimes has several decades of development behind it. The robustness of the frame and the mechanical parts has already proven itself in the field. That's a valid argument, certainly for anyone looking for a machine for limited or temporary use.
"Will I make it through my workday?" is usually the first question people ask, and it's usually answered with a glance at the battery capacity. But that's only half the story. Energy consumption per hour matters just as much.
Electric power steering uses considerably less energy than hydraulic systems. Individual wheel motors work more efficiently than a central drive. And smart software that continuously optimizes energy and torque makes a bigger difference as the day goes on. In practice, the AllTrec 8015F achieves up to sixteen hours of working time on a single charge.
Since 2023, FPS Machines has been developing and producing battery packs for professional applications. Hundreds of packs have been delivered to date, ranging from 25 kWh to 212 kWh and from 80V to 700V. That technology is put to work every day in machines from AllTrec itself and Tomach, among others.
What that means for the customer: the battery is matched to the machine, not the other way around. There are short lines between the machine and the battery specialists, no dependence on external suppliers, and long term support from the same organization that built the machine.
For series production and a long term outlook, a conversion is rarely the strongest choice. But for small numbers, temporary use, a specific project or a niche application, it can be a perfectly good solution. Is that your situation? Get in touch and we'll gladly think it through with you to find the right approach for your circumstances.
In cases like these, ask yourself: where is the battery in the frame? How many kWh does the machine have, and how many hours does it actually run on that? What's the energy consumption per hour? Is the power steering electric or hydraulic? How many liters of hydraulics are still on board?
Curious about our customers' experiences? Have a read of what they have to say.
The AllTrec was designed as an electric machine from the ground up. We take account of better weight distribution, more efficient drive, smarter software and a battery that's been developed and produced specifically for this machine. The technology is proven in daily professional use, and the machine is built for a full workday with low operating costs across its entire service life.
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We speak daily with municipalities, green contractors and managers making the transition to emission-free maintenance. Less diesel, more ‘green’. The reasons vary. But the movement is irreversible. And besides: residents and bystanders nowadays look with admiration at how emission-free and silent machines do their work.
A milestone in sustainable green space management.
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