Konecranes today announced its new E-Hybrid Rubber-Tired Gantry (RTG) crane and electric empty container handler for the global market at the TOC Europe exhibition in Rotterdam, moving it one step closer to its goal of having fully electric variants of its entire port equipment portfolio by 2026.
The new Konecranes E-Hybrid RTG expands the meaning of hybrid power beyond traditional diesel-battery RTG operation to electric-battery operation, a vital option especially for terminals currently unable to drop diesel power given the need for back-up if blackouts occur. Even short, one- or two-second blackouts cause emergency stops, brake issues and maintenance problems, while longer outages halt operations completely.
“Blackouts are a clear operational risk for a number of our terminal customers, so the Konecranes E-Hybrid RTG, with a combination of onboard batteries and busbar or cable reel electricity supply, solves that problem. But the E-Hybrid RTG is a game-changer for all customers on the road to fully electric container handling and lower emissions,” says Thomas Gylling, Director of Marketing & Customer Experience, Port Solutions, Konecranes.
Container terminals can charge the E-Hybrid RTG batteries via a cable reel or busbar system during the normal flow of operations. The electrical power requirement for battery charging is 60 kW, much less than the up to 400 kW needed for RTGs powered directly by cable reel or busbar systems. Therefore, significant CAPEX savings can be achieved when building or adjusting the container yard infrastructure. All of the parts are field-proven, including Konecranes' RTG battery technology, currently used in over 200 hybrid Konecranes RTGs globally.
Konecranes has already received an order for E-Hybrid RTGs from a Brazilian container terminal, and the E-Hybrid RTG is now available globally.
Konecranes is also rolling out its electric empty container handler 9-10t in Europe and North America after successful launches in Asia, MEA and Latin America. The truck has been praised by customers, who like its fast acceleration and lifting speed, quick charging, low noise and vibration, and zero tailpipe emissions. This empty container handler is the latest addition to the series of fully electric lift trucks that Konecranes has introduced in recent years, starting with the 10-18t and 18-25t electric forklifts.
“The electric empty container handler is now available in Europe and North America. It has been well-received in the rest of the world, offering customers the compact efficiency they expect in a powerful and durable electric lift truck,” Thomas Gylling says.
These introductions at TOC Europe 2025 are part of Ecolifting, Konecranes' vision to increase its handprint – meaning the beneficial environmental impact that can be achieved with our product and service portfolio – while reducing customers' carbon footprints. From eco-optimizing diesel drives, to hybridization and fully-electrified fleets, we will continue to do more with less.
A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a material handling industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.
Source: Konecranes