Gaussin Wins Record 100-unit Turkish Deal for All-electric Terminal Vehicles

Gaussin Manugistique® SA, designer and manufacturer of industrial and port transport vehicles, has sealed a record deal for its container-handling Automotive Terminal Trailer (ATT®) from Turkish port and logistics operator AKAN-SEL. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 26 June at the TOC Container Supply Chain Europe show in Rotterdam, AKAN-SEL has placed a confirmed order for 40 ATT units, with an option for 60 more.

The new units will be fitted with Gaussin’s new Full Elec Power Pack, which was also officially launched at TOC CSC Europe. Developed in partnership with CEA, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, the all-electric power unit is based on lithium-ion battery technology and can operate for up to 12 hours before recharging, a process that takes 2 hours.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Gaussin CEO Christophe Gaussin said that it will cost just €2 per hour to run an ATT fitted with the Full Elec Power Pack, ensuring very competitive operating costs compared with traditional diesel technology, as well as eliminating CO2 and particulate emissions. The new battery has a predicted lifecycle of 5-7 years, with a lightweight 4 tonne design and “zero maintenance requirements,” added Gaussin.

AKAN-SEL is expected to take delivery of the first 20 units in the second half of 2014, followed by another 20 during the first half of 2015. Volkan Akan, Chairman and Owner of the AKAN-SEL Group, said that the company will be deploying its new ATT units at several sites across Turkey. The 32-year old company is active in ports, logistics, mining and construction services in Turkey and Iraq, plus multimodal transport across Europe and the Middle East.

“We made a big move choosing the full electric ATT and the main motivation was environmental issues, including zero carbon dioxide emissions and no noise for our drivers” said Akan. He added that at nearly €2 per litre, diesel fuel costs have become a “huge burden” for Turkish companies, further prompting the move towards cleaner and cheaper electric solutions. “Any saving on diesel consumption is a really big issue for us. We are very glad to sign this MoU with Gaussin to help us achieve our energy and environmental goals.”

First launched in 2011, and since extensively developed, the ATT range offers operators a self-propelled and modular alternative to the traditional tractor-trailer combination used for transporting containers in and around terminals. ATT trailers are equipped with an interchangeable power pack, now available in diesel, hybrid or fully-electric versions, which drives a lightweight cabin mounted directly onto the trailer’s front axle. A robotic version of the ATT is also now undergoing tests. The company says that the ATT concept dramatically reduces maintenance, tyre and energy costs and allows users to maximise asset management.  

The latest order from AKAN-SEL follows a contract this March for 50 ATT V4 units from Indonesian operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III Persero for its new automated terminal at Lamong Bay Terminal in Surabaya. Gaussin has also recently signed an MoU with an undisclosed major port operator in Africa for another 50 ATT V4 units with Full Elec Power Pack, pending a 6-month trial with a demonstration unit between September 2013 and February 2014.”