2023 GROOMER
REPORT
debut of the 600 E+ hybrid machine. Mir- roring proven locomotive technology, the 600 E+ uses a diesel engine to power an electric drivetrain. The hybrid tech is in its second generation, and Wirtz teases, “we are working to develop the third gen- eration 600.” The current offering promis- es to reduce fuel consumption, noise, and CO2 emissions by up to 20 percent. The groundbreaking PistenBully 100 E was the world’s first fully electric snowcat. It hit the slopes for testing in 2019 but is not yet on the market. It can charge completely in 6.5 hours and pro- vide instant torque over about a three- hour operating time. Its small footprint and nimble maneuverability make it ideal for Nordic trails and precision work in small spaces. PRINOTH’s fully electric Husky eMo- tion is currently in the U.S. A 245 hp elec- tric motor offers 738 ft-lb of torque for a working time of up to three hours. At just over 13 ft wide, the Husky eMotion is also well suited for cross-country applications and on-mountain areas where the smaller size and flexibility are needed. Battery technology is the major limiting factor for electric snowcats. As that technology improves over the next decade, expect both PistenBully and PRINOTH to capitalize on these advanc- es to drive the industry closer to emis- sions-free grooming.
(ICE) version entered testing in Septem- ber 2022. The h2Motion won’t be mar- ket-ready for a few more years, as testing continues and the associated challenges of hydrogen availability and handling in the ski resort environment are addressed. While the efficiency of hydrogen is real—its energy density is about three times that of diesel—the availability challenges are equally real. Hydrogen must be harvested through processes like photoelectrochemical water split- ting and electrolysis. Infrastructure challenges notwith- standing, an h2Motion ICE model was used at a recent World Cup event in Austria. As production and availability improve, hydrogen could become a key fuel for slope grooming. Bottom line from Muigg: “When the ski resorts are ready, we have the vehicle ready.” For fully zero-emission machines, electricity is the key. PistenBully began to address zero emissions in 2012 with the
Top: PRINOTH’s fleet at the Ski World Champi- onship in Åre was powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil. Bottom: PistenBully’s ParkPro winch utilizing forks to move a feature.
out any modifications. However, HVO does deliver slightly lower energy densi- ty, and it is not readily available. That’s changing—as of January 2023, produc- tion was increasing in the U.S., and there were at least 100 stations offering HVO. Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) fuel, a synthe- sis of natural gas, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, which is then liquified under high temperature, is another option. This process creates a variety of final products, including a synthetic diesel fuel. Chemi- cally, GTL is very similar to regular diesel fuel, and like HVO can be used in most diesel engines without modification. GTL burns cleaner than diesel and combusts better under low temperatures, and like HVO is not prone to bacterial growth. Downsides: a lower energy density than regular diesel fuel, requiring about 6 per- cent more fuel to do the same work; plus, GTL does not cause expansion of rub- ber seals like diesel fuel, meaning older engines may develop more leaky seals.
Top: PistenBully’s 100 E was the first fully electric snowcat. Bottom: PRINOTH’s hydro- gen-powered Leitwolf h2Motion is being tested in two forms.
MORE DIESEL ALTERNATIVES
Another option for lower carbon fuels is hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as “renewable diesel” or “green diesel.” PRINOTH’s fleet at the Ski World Championship in Åre, Sweden, was pow- ered by HVO. The Jungholz Ski Resort in Austria successfully powered its fleet of PistenBully snowcats with HVO for the entire 2021-22 season. Like biodiesel, HVO is a low-carbon fuel derived from lipids such as cooking oils. Unlike biodiesel, however, the hydro- treatment process results in a fuel much more chemically similar to regular diesel fuel. It can be run in 100 percent concentra- tion or blended at any ratio with diesel fuel. With its very low carbon content and resistance to bacterial growth, HVO is a viable low-emissions alternative fuel. Most diesel engines can run on HVO with-
SOFTWARE
Improving the efficiency and effective- ness of a slope grooming program doesn’t end with the machine itself. PRINOTH and PistenBully both offer software sys- tems for snow and fleet management. The savings and efficiencies can be seen at resorts of almost any size as they care- fully manage snowmaking water output, fleet maintenance, and grooming opera- tions decisions. PRINOTH Connect offers a suite of fleet management tools. Muigg touts a payoff as soon as year one for an aver- age ski resort through fuel reduction alone. Patterns, RPM range, logs, and
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