http://www.autoevolution.com/news/meet-the-kulan-your-next-lightweight-electric-tractor-85343.html Meet the KULAN - Your Next Lightweight Electric Tractor by Gabriel Brindusescu 18th August 2014
[images http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/gallery/meet-the-kulan-your-next-lightweight-electric-tractor_1.jpg KULAN Electric Tractor http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/gallery/meet-the-kulan-your-next-lightweight-electric-tractor_2.jpg http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/gallery/meet-the-kulan-your-next-lightweight-electric-tractor_3.jpg ] The auto industry is heading towards engine downsizing, lower fuel consumption and ultimately, cutting fossil fuels from the equation of transportation. And if your future personal transportation is represented by an electric leaning three-wheeler or something similar, your future farm utility might look like this hard-edged quad. What you see in the picture above was built by German project POLY-LAB and is called the KULAN. Their target is to take this electric quad and sell it to farmers as a cheap and eco-friendly light utility vehicle to help around with the daily work. The whole thing weighs only around 300 kg (661 lbs), which is even less than your average light tractor you can buy now. But don’t let yourself fooled by its flimsy and simple design. It can haul up to 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs) thanks to lightweight yet strong materials like B. polyurethane. And you don’t even need a trailer, ‘cause it has a rear flatbed. It’s said to be powered by four in-wheel electric motors fed up by a super-efficient battery pack which should make it go for up to six hours, or 300 km (186 miles). Pretty damn good for a vehicle you’ll mostly use to carry hay stacks, fertilizer and fruits around the farm. Let’s hope these numbers will become real. The team is currently working to bring the KULAN in the light-tractor market so expect to see it roaming around somebody’s farm in Germany soon. Maybe the government will also offer some incentives to purchase these more easily and aid farmers go even greener. Our only complain? Those damn rims. We know this is a concept and has to look appealing, but we hope the production version will come with something more suitable for mud-riding and light off-roading. [© autoevolution.com] ... http://www.technologicvehicles.com/en/green-transportation-news/2813/kulan-by-polylab-the-tractor-of-the-future-1 Kulan by PolyLab, the tractor of the future 16 August 2014 http://www.iwu.fraunhofer.de/de/presse_und_medien/Presse-201111/presse_2013-12-17.html [In German> translate.google >English] Rollout of the lightweight vehicle »KULAN" Press Release 17/12/2013 [images http://www.iwu.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/iwu/de/Bilder/Presse/Polylab_gro%C3%9F.jpg http://www.iwu.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/iwu/de/Bilder/Presse/Agritechnica_gro%C3%9F.JPG ] For the Lusatian technology and development cooperation POLY-LAB.NET it was the reward for almost two years of intensive research, development and design: On December 10 finally rolled the innovative lightweight vehicle »KULAN" from the pilot plant at the site of POLYSAX education center Plastics GmbH in Bautzen - and this was the first practice test with flying colors. Coordinator and research and development network partners is the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU. In April 2012, was founded on the initiative of the member companies and with the support of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology BMWi network POLY-LAB.NET. The collaboration brings together fourteen Lusatian companies and two research institutes, including the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, which brings above all his skills from the field of lightweight function. The network has set itself the goal of combining research and development, so that the region can secure a firm foothold in future markets with new, innovative and above all our own products. »Lightweight technologies, especially for electric vehicles in the transportation of persons, are becoming further through," explains Dr. Eberhard Kunke, chief engineer at the Fraunhofer IWU in Dresden. "With the lightweight vehicle KULAN we want to tap this potential in the commercial vehicle sector." The components, materials and technologies used to provide the members of the network are available. "Our work reflects the innovative strength of the region as well as the commitment and performance of their young professionals resist," adds Hans-Tobias Schick dance, Network Manager of POLY-LAB.NET. "The prototype is to show how ideas and ultimately sustainable technologies can be realized through regional cooperation." The technology demonstrator, nicknamed "KULAN", the name originally referred to an Asian beast of burden, is about 300 kg and weighs significantly less than standard small car. It can be used anywhere where exhaust and noise must be carried out without, as in the park maintenance, on golf courses, in stables or at trade fairs. The maximum load is 1000 kg. On average, the battery of the electric motor used for 6 hours or up to 300km ranges - depending on load, road profile and temperature. The company car Böttcher from Kamenz, specialized for 15 years on e-mobility has developed for KULAN a patented "intelligent" battery management system, which regulates the supply of the electric motor at an optimum balance between performance and fuel consumption. The loading area consists of a very light and strong composite material that is composed of layers of metal foam and fiber reinforced polyurethane. The design of the vehicle comes from Felix Götze, Tom Mudra and Hans-Tobias Schick dance. The network continued in the development not only on the synergetic effects of cooperation, but also supported the young professionals from the region. In the design and construction of lightweight vehicle also trainees POLY SAX education center Plastics GmbH actively worked with. 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