The E-Aaglander uses a 48V and 400Ah battery that lasts for eight hours of use.

Carriages using forklift drive technology rather than horses were displayed at a European trade show this month.

Linde Material Handling, which supplies the electric drive technology to power Aagland's tourist-targeted carriages, showcased one of the carriages it helped modify at the MobiliTec trade show in Hannover on 8-12 April.

Aagland has been building horseless carriages for sightseeing tours in the city, for country outings or shuttle services offered by hotels. The carriages, which seat up to five passengers, were previously powered by diesel engines. Horses were considered costly to maintain and drivers had to be trained to steer them.

The company became aware of Linde's electric drive technology solutions at the SPS IPC Drives expo in Nuremberg last northern autumn, and decided to partner with the German forklift maker's electronic systems and drives (ES&D) unit.

Together with Aagland, ES&D engineers developed the E-Aaglander, a carriage for up to five passengers. A special kit consisting of an asynchronous motor with a maximum power of 16 kW and a torque of 70 Nm is installed on the rear axle of the carriage, as well as a power module, and other components from Linde.

The E-Aaglander uses a 48V and 400Ah battery that lasts for eight hours of use before it has to be recharged. The vehicle reaches a maximum speed of 20 km/h (12 mph.).

All the drive components come from Linde Material Handling's mass production for electric industrial trucks.