Now under development, the Hybrid 1516 will be the first of a new range of Horizontal Directional Drills, which will be launched later this year. Details of the drill and the rest of the range to follow, will be posted on our web site and Blog site periodically so please check back with us from time to time.

With 66,723N (15,000 lbs) thrust and pullback machine and 2,170Nm (1600 ft lbs) of torque, the drill will provide a number of key benefits including improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and lower noise levels.

The 1516 and the rest of the Hybrid drill range will use a combination of conventional diesel engines and electric motors to deliver the total machine output, normally requiring a much larger diesel engine.

TerraMacs is at this stage developing drill options with and without clutch between the diesel and electric motors, allowing machines with clutch to operate solely from the electric motor to position the drill on site and to stakedown and possibly to carry out smaller drill shots from a totally silent machine. For larger work where the electric motor output on its own is insufficient and for machines without clutch, the diesel engine will ramp up output as required in series with the electric motor as required to meet drilling needs. Whenever the total power draw permits, the diesel engine is left to idle or turnover at lower speed thus saving further on fuel and while tests are to be concluded, it is expected that fuel economy of at least between 35% and 40% will be achieved over conventional drills in the same size.

Whenever onboard battery levels start to drop below optimum, they are recharged from the electric motor, acting as an alternator and with battery levels automatically managed and maintained in this manner, substantially extended battery life is achieved. Control of systems interaction will all be automatic and require no operator intervention. TerraMacs is testing both Lithium Iron and Gell Cell batteries and may consider allowing customers to choose their preferred option.

Both motors will drive the hydraulic pump and drill circuit and with electric over oil controls and load sensing on the electric motor, hydraulic flow will be tuned to provide optimum flow and /or pressure to those machine functions requiring it.

The TerraMacs Hybrid drill will also provide other benefits as a result, such as a smaller size footprint and will use existing technologies developed by TerraMacs in its current range of product to provide what TerraMacs believes will be a world leading product.

Noise and emission reductions come from the use of a smaller diesel engine and the automated control of this, allowing it to idle or operate at lower speed than would normally be required with conventional drills.

Why Buy Hybrid?:

Since announcing out intention to launch a range of Hybrid Horizontal Directional Drilling Rigs, we have had many enquiries asking about the 'advantages or benefits that they will bring for contractors, utility companies and the public?'

In response:

There can be little doubt and everyone is aware of the growing pressures now being placed on all walks of life right across the world to reduce emission levels and our carbon footprint on the planet. Protocols and policies, such as the Kyoto Protocol, are being enacted around the world at all levels and in all walks of life from government legislation to green pressure groups and now with many large corporates setting in place their own environmental policies and procedures designed to provide for sustainable business practices. Some countries, states and corporates may be more advanced in their environmental policy making and 'greener' than others but without any doubt recognition is worldwide of the need to change.

So how does this translate to your own business and the Directional Drilling machines you use in the future? Given that the technology is now available to support Hybrid ( Electric & Diesel ) Horizontal Directional Drilling and that this provides for lower levels of noise and particulate emissions and a reduced carbon footprint and while legislation or incentives may vary according to the geography of your own business, there can be little doubt that future direction is set. We suggest that in any facet of your business you should always consider future proofing yourself, particularly when making major capital purchases. We suggest that utility companies will, if not already, be seeking to establish their own environmental policies and to reduce their own carbon footprint and that this will reflect on their contracting decisions in the future. Contractors who can offer technology which offers environmental benefits such as with Hybrid Directional Drills will, in our view, receive preference when contract awards are made in the future.