The Russian electric forklift ANT 1000E is being prepared for testing in the conditions of the Sakhalin winter. Pilot operation is planned to take place from mid-November to the end of December on the territory of a building materials plant in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
The equipment will have to operate at sub-zero temperatures, snow cover, and high humidity. This mode will allow checking how well the electric forklift maintains its performance characteristics in conditions significantly different from tests in the European part of Russia.
Prior to this, ANT 1000E had already passed tests in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Kovrov. In Sakhalin, its operation will be tested specifically during the autumn-winter period.
The electric drive has no exhaust emissions during operation and is significantly quieter than diesel counterparts. This allows the machine to be used in enclosed warehouses and other facilities with limited ventilation, and the electric drive requires less maintenance.
The choice of Sakhalin is also associated with the development of local charging infrastructure. More than 300 charging stations for electric vehicles have already been deployed in the region, which simplifies the operation of electric equipment.
In parallel, the parties discussed the creation of a gas-powered version of ANT. Separately, the possibility of using the domestic APN-30 power plant in the municipal economy and the oil and gas sector of the region was considered.
The main test for ANT 1000E will be the upcoming Sakhalin winter. If the forklift maintains reliability in frost, snow, and high humidity, the test results may confirm the possibility of its operation in northern regions.