Sustainable slope preparation

New snow groomer Kässbohrer PistenBully 600 E+
Just in time for the start of the winter season 2020/21, we could take delivery of our first «green snow groomer». This makes us one of three Swiss snow sports resorts to set another milestone in sustainable slope preparation with the use of a «PistenBully 600 E+» from Kässbohrer. We already had a first test vehicle in use in the 2019/20 winter season. According to the manufacturer, the «PistenBully 600 E+» is the cleanest and simultaneously the quietest vehicle in the snow. With its diesel-electric drive, the green PistenBully promises the lowest emissions, thanks to the massively reduced diesel consumption. We are convinced that this will further reduce CO2 consumption and thus contribute to a snow sports operation that is as CO2 neutral as possible. 

Less exhaust fumes and noise
The new «PistenBully 600 E+» is based on the «PistenBully 600 Polar», which we already have in operation. With its Cummins X12 and diesel particulate filter, the «PistenBully 600 Polar» was the first snow groomer to meet the requirements of EU emission level V as early as 2018. The constant operation of the diesel engine in the optimal speed range now makes the new «PistenBully 600 E+» even more efficient, economical and 20% quieter than the «PistenBully 600 Polar».  

When driving uphill, the engine drives the generator and the hydraulic pumps via the transfer case, resulting in 16% more thrust on the mountain. The intelligent energy management ensures that during descent the electric motor supports the transfer case and the hydraulic pumps as a generator. These reliefs the engine and significantly reduces diesel consumption, resulting in up to 20% lower NOX and CO2 emissions. In addition, 99% fewer soot particles are released into the environment. 

Each snow groomer pulls a snow blower behind it, which chops up the snow compacted by the tracks and smooths it with a rake. Usually, the blower is hydraulically operated, but the «PistenBully 600 E+» uses an electric drive. And since the tiller is always running, right down to the last few metres in the garage, there is always a power-hungry consumer available. By using the recuperated energy, the diesel engine is relieved and diesel consumption is reduced. The actual reduction in consumption is achieved through recuperation. Whenever the «PistenBully 600 E+» drives downhill, the motors on the tracks work as generators and recover energy.  

Heading to professional and sustainable slope preparation
To achieve the savings predicted by the manufacturer, special driving skills, sensitivity and prudent slope preparation are required. After all, the driver has a decisive influence on diesel consumption. He sets the desired driving speed with the accelerator pedal. The intelligent vehicle control system calculates the best possible operating point from this, depending on the slope gradient, travel speed and milling power, at which the diesel engine provides the required power in a way that optimizes consumption. This means that the machine is always operated at the lowest possible speed with high capacity utilization. In the future, slope preparation will thus be even more demanding than it already is.  

Since we constantly document the diesel consumption of our snow groomers, we can analyse the actual consumption and compare it with conventional snow groomers. At the end of the season we will be able to determine how much diesel we have been able to save with the «Green PistenBully». If our results match those of the manufacturer, we will replace existing snow groomers with the «PistenBully 600 E+» where possible and sensible.