At the Heihe Honghegu Automotive Testing Center in late January, Zoomlion Access conducted a comprehensive 15-day extreme cold weather test on five of its MEWPs and telehandlers. With -30°C temperatures along the Nenjiang River, the test evaluated product reliability and stability under severe winter conditions, including low temperatures, snow, ice, wet surfaces, and repeating start-stop cycles. The testing covered three power types, including diesel, hybrid, and electric, with a focus on three key areas: cold start performance, operation on snow and ice, and aerial work stability.
In extreme cold, starting a machine is the first major challenge. Reduced battery efficiency, increased oil consumption, and slower hydraulic responses all pose real obstacles. During the test, diesel, electric, and hybrid models all successfully started without auxiliary heating, including the ZTH4014 diesel telehandler. Beyond the initial start, engineers also assessed how well each machine recovered after prolonged exposure, frost buildup, and repeating cold starts. Once started, performance on snow and ice became the focus. The test site provided natural conditions to evaluate steering, braking, maneuverability, and tire traction on frozen surfaces. Throughout the tests, the equipment maintained stable power output and consistent handling.
