Cifa claims 30% cost savings with Hybrid

The Energya E9 hybrid cement mixer showcased at Bauma 2013 could save owners up to 30% of the cost of diesel fuel a year compared to a standard model, according to manufacturer Cifa.

The company claimed the machine, which is fitted with an electric motor driven by a lithium battery unit, could pay for itself in less than five years.

In traditional truck mixers, drum movement is generated by a hydraulic system, but the Energya truck uses an electric induction motor powered by the battery. It can be plugged in and charged from the power grid, a generator and other industrial power supply hook-ups.

The 9 m³ drum hybrid is also fitted with a kinetic energy recovery system that reclaims energy during vehicle deceleration.

The truck mixer is said to be particularly well-suited to operation in dense urban environments, due to its reduced emissions, and at night, due to its low noise output since the drum can be rotated with the engine switched off.