Himoinsa generators were used as the sole power source to charge the batteries of Acciona 100% EcoPowered, the first fully-electric car to enter the Dakar Rally.
The Spanish portable power manufacturer was the official supplier of generator sets for the charging points used by the Acciona 100% EcoPowered vehicle during Dakar 2016.
Three Himoinsa HFW-200 T5 gensets with FPT Industrial engines were enlisted for the rally. The units were installed on support trucks that accompanied the electric car along its route.
The competition vehicle charged its batteries at the beginning, the midway point, and the end of each stage of the rally. Acciona 100% EcoPowered’s high-performance battery models took less than 60 minutes to charge, and could be quickly and easily removed for replacement in link sections.
Commenting on the selection of Himoinsa gensets, Eduardo Blanco, Acciona EcoPowered’s team manager, said: “We couldn’t allow any kind of failure; the equipment had to be dependable and guarantee a reliable electricity supply as the battery cannot be charged otherwise – and with no battery, the vehicle doesn’t work.
“We’ve used Himoinsa generators in other, less prestigious competitions, and we achieved excellent results. We decided to make Himoinsa our official supplier for Dakar 2016 and the results have been fantastic,” he added.
In addition to its ongoing collaboration with the Acciona EcoPowered team, Himoinsa enjoys strong links to the Dakar Rally with its private team, Himoinsa Racing Team.
Speaking on the benefits of the partnership, Francisco Gracia, executive director of Himoinsa, said: “This initiative with Acciona EcoPowered has enabled us to bring our generators to the competition. The race is run over a route of around 10,000km, with stopping points, where bivouac camps are set up, located in remote places with no connections to the electrical grid – certainly a situation in which generators are essential.”
The Himoinsa HFW-200 T5 gensets used by Acciona 100% EcoPowered during Dakar 2016 offered 400/230V at a frequency of 50Hz.
The Acciona 100% EcoPowered vehicle featured seven battery packs and a six-speed sequential gearbox. Its dual-synchronous propulsion motor delivered 500Nm of torque and 340 hp at 6,000 rpm.
Dakar Rally’s first fully-electric entrant, driven by Ariel Jatón, was forced to withdraw after the 10th stage, when organisers announced it had arrived late for the beginning of the 11th stage.
