Danfoss Power Solutions has introduced the Editron EM‑PMI180, a new 48‑V low‑voltage electric motor specifically engineered to drive hydraulic gear pumps in compact electric and hybrid off‑highway machinery. The machine‑side target is the work‑function circuit (boom, lift, implement hydraulics), enabling OEMs to decouple hydraulic performance from the traction drivetrain and accelerate the transition from diesel‑powered auxiliaries to fully electrified architectures.
The Editron EM‑PMI180 is a synchronous reluctance assisted permanent magnet (SRPM) machine designed for operation on a 48‑V DC bus. The SRPM topology combines the robustness and field‑weakening capability of synchronous reluctance motors with a reduced permanent‑magnet content, improving partial‑load efficiency and limiting dependence on rare‑earth materials compared with conventional interior permanent magnet designs. The motor is optimized for direct coupling to hydraulic gear pumps, with a standard pump interface and a mechanical layout tailored to typical off‑highway packaging constraints.
Key performance data
At 48 V DC the EM‑PMI180 delivers a rated mechanical power of 7 kW at 3,000 rpm, with a maximum speed of 4,000 rpm for transient high‑flow demand. Rated torque is 22.5 Nm, rising to 90 Nm peak, which allows the motor to drive gear pumps up to 16 cm³/rev at system pressures of 240 bar within the specified duty cycle. The combination of high torque density and low‑voltage operation positions the motor for auxiliary and work‑function electrification in compact loaders, mini‑excavators, scissor lifts and similar platforms where 48‑V architectures are becoming standard.
With an outer diameter of 180 mm, the motor’s compact footprint simplifies integration into crowded machine bays and on existing hydraulic manifolds. The housing and connector meet IP67 requirements, ensuring resistance to dust ingress and temporary immersion, a critical attribute for construction and agricultural environments subject to mud, wash‑down and aggressive contaminants. Danfoss has matched the motor to the EC‑C48 inverter, due for availability in 2026, enabling OEMs to adopt a validated, single‑supplier motor–inverter package with coordinated control parameters and diagnostic functions.
Design targets
The motor is targeted at compact electric and hybrid machines where OEMs are migrating from belt‑driven or PTO‑driven auxiliary pumps to dedicated e‑pump architectures. Typical applications include boom lifts and scissor lifts, compact wheel loaders and mini‑excavators, as well as other mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) that increasingly adopt 48‑V systems for safety and regulatory reasons. By isolating the work‑function hydraulics on a low‑voltage bus, OEMs can decouple hydraulic performance from traction power sizing while remaining within familiar automotive‑style low‑voltage limits, which simplifies wiring, insulation coordination and service procedures for fleet operators.
The IP67 construction addresses demanding environmental exposure, including dust, water spray and intermittent submersion, supporting deployment on machines operating in construction, agriculture, rental fleets and industrial sites. Use of an SRPM topology with reduced rare‑earth content supports long‑term cost stability and sustainability objectives while maintaining the torque density required in compact frames. Combined with Danfoss’s global manufacturing and quality systems across the Editron portfolio, the EM‑PMI180 is positioned as a long‑life component suitable for high utilization rates and extended maintenance intervals in professional duty cycles.
