Battery Power Transforms Heavy Lifting
05/29/2025
By Mike Beres
Vice President, Engineered Rigging
The world of heavy lifting is undergoing a transformation. The familiar roar of diesel power sources and hydraulic power units is gradually being replaced by the silent hum of electric motors. Battery-powered heavy lifting equipment is steadily gaining traction, driven by remarkable advancements in energy storage, power management and control systems. This shift to battery power could redefine operational efficiency, safety and precision on job sites worldwide. Let’s take a look at the key technologies propelling the shift to battery power and how leading companies are leveraging these innovations.
The Power Shift: Why Batteries?
The move to battery-powered heavy lifting equipment is due to several compelling advantages.
- Environmental & Acoustic Benefits: Zero exhaust emissions enable safe indoor operation (factories, cleanrooms, tunnels) and in areas with strict air quality regulations. Additionally, quiet operation improves on-site communication and allows work in noise-sensitive environments.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Replacing engines eliminates refueling downtime and offers minimal maintenance requirements (fewer fluids, filters) resulting in increased equipment uptime and lower operational costs.
- Precise Control: Electric motors often offer immediate, precise torque, translating to finer control over functions and movement, crucial for delicate or complex lifts.
The heart of this revolution lies in cutting-edge battery technology and power management. LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate), also called a LFP battery, is a type of lithium-ion battery preferred for heavy equipment due to offering enhanced safety (higher thermal stability), extended cycle life (thousands of charges) and consistent power output throughout discharge. In addition to being highly efficient, they are non-toxic and an eco-friendly choice.
The batteries powering today’s heavy lifting equipment also feature Smart Battery Management Systems (BMS). Using complex algorithms, the system provides real-time monitoring of the battery’s temperature, state of charge (SOC), cell balancing and additional functions. The BMS helps optimize the battery’s performance, lifespan and safety.
Hot-swappable battery packs, like those in the AlmaCrawler Multi-Loaders, feature high-power density, fast charging and modular designs. As the name suggests, the quick replacement of a machine’s depleted batteries maximizes uptime by enabling nearly continuous operation, another element adding to the appeal of battery technology
Electrified Powerhouses: Tools Leading the Charge
Battery power is transforming a diverse array of equipment designed to lift, lower, hold and horizontally move heavy loads. Leading manufacturers continue to adapt battery technology into unique heavy lift product categories as detailed below.
Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) with Battery HPUs
Traditionally, these highly precise, multi-axle heavy transport vehicles are diesel-powered due to high power requirements and usage in remote applications. Leveraging zero emissions, SPMTs are integrating Battery-Electric Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs) to lose the diesel exhaust and gain access to applications previously unavailable. Manufacturers like Goldhofer, Scheuerle (TII Group), Cometto (Faymonville Group), and Greiner Heavy Engineering are developing zero-emission, low-noise systems, while maintaining the SPMT’s unparalleled maneuverability and load capacity. Greiner’s SEFIRO series offers a glimpse of the future with an autonomous driving program.
Battery-Powered Skates
Hilman, Enerpac, HTS Global, and GKS provide remote-controlled, self-contained motorized dollies for precise lateral moves. These skates feature integrated power for quiet, emission-free operation and durable non-marking wheels. With load capacities up to 55 tons, powered skates can be combined with traditional follower skates to move oversized loads.
Battery-Powered Spider Cranes
Spider cranes are compact, tracked cranes with independently adjustable outriggers ideal for confined or challenging spaces. Jekko is a leader in the mini-crane segment, offering robust battery systems, dual power options, and precise remote controls in their versatile, low-noise, zero-emission machines. The Jekko SPX532 Mini Crane was featured at Engineered Rigging’s Equipment Showcase on June 10-12, 2025.
Battery-Powered Multi-Loaders
As highly versatile tracked carriers for material handling, AlmaCrawler’s innovations include patented Bi-Leveling Technology that automatically level the machine on slopes (up to +/-20°) for enhanced safety and stability, alongside their signature hot-swappable battery packs and robust track designs. The AlmaCrawler’s 6.0BL and 3.0FX models were shown at Engineered Rigging’s Equipment Showcase in June 2025 along with other battery-powered solutions.
Engineered Rigging: Empowering Projects with Electric Advantage
At Engineered Rigging, we’re actively integrating battery-powered solutions into our expanding rental fleet to provide clients with access to cutting-edge technology without large capital investments. We partner with a collection of world-leading manufacturers to offer best-in-class, battery-powered solutions.
- Our rental fleet includes advanced battery-powered dollies for precise, quiet, and emission-free lateral moves in sensitive environments.
- We deploy cutting-edge e-Synch technology, a synchronous lift system from Hydraulic Technologies. Their battery-integrated system enables synchronized, precise and highly efficient multi-point lifting crucial for complex projects without the limits of a power cord.
- Our comprehensive battery-powered rental fleet also includes cordless hydraulic tools and solutions from industry leaders Holmatro and Enerpac which deliver enhanced on-site efficiency and safety.
- As specific project needs arise, we strive to add advanced battery-powered equipment from Jekko (mini cranes) and AlmaCrawler (tracked carriers) to further diversify our offerings. Our commitment to battery-powered technologies underscores our dedication to providing safer, more efficient and environmentally responsible heavy lifting and rigging solutions.
At our Heavy Lifting Equipment Showcase in Russellville, Arkansas in June 2025, we featured live demonstrations of our battery-powered dollies, eSync hydraulic systems and select equipment from Jekko, AlmaCrawler, Holmatro, Enerpac, and Hydraulic Technologies. It was a unique opportunity to interact with the experts and see how these powerful tools can elevate your project. Contact our Heavy Lifting Experts to learn more.
The Progressive Path to Electrified Heavy Lifting
The evolution of battery-powered heavy lifting represents a pivotal phase in industrial technology. Driven by advanced battery chemistries, intelligent power management and innovative designs, these machines are becoming increasingly viable. They offer significant operational flexibility, environmental benefits and enhanced safety. While challenges in battery energy density, charging infrastructure and initial investment continue to be addressed, the trajectory towards electrified heavy lifting is clear. Further innovation of these systems will progressively transform how industries move, lift, and build, contributing to a more efficient and intelligent future.
