Potain launches PowerBoost™ to add battery capacity to self-erecting cranes

• Potain introduces PowerBoost™, a maintenance-free battery pack for the Igo M 24-19 self-erecting crane, enabling plug-and-play installation.

• PowerBoost™ can operate independently or alongside on-site electricity, offering quieter, emission-free power and reducing fuel transport needs.

• The battery system supports up to two working days of power, fast charging, and flexible use for lifting, setup, and teardown tasks.

• The first deployment was by Valem in France for a historic restoration project, demonstrating practical application and benefits on sensitive sites.

• The battery pack can be used as a standalone unit or in conjunction with the on-site electricity supply.

• PowerBoost™ will initially launch for the Potain Igo M 24-19 and offers plug-and-play installation.

• With PowerBoost™, Igo M 24-19 owners benefit from faster set-up, easier installation, and more efficient lifting, while offering lower overall emissions.

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A new battery pack for Potain self-erecting cranes will bring greater flexibility to jobsites. The new, maintenance-free PowerBoost™ launched on the Potain Igo M 24-19, which debuted on the global stage at bauma 2025. It offers a plug-and-play battery solution that can serve as a standalone power source or work in conjunction with the on-site power supply.

“Unlike a diesel generator, there’s no noise or emissions with PowerBoost™. This also eradicates the need to transport fuel to the jobsite and can help reduce overall project costs. It’s an ideal product for a range of applications, including sensitive renovation projects or other sites with restrictions on sound or air quality. It also means customers can continue to use the crane even if there’s an issue with the local grid supply,” said Remi Deporte, self-erecting cranes product manager at Manitowoc.

Once connected, PowerBoost™ can install and erect the crane and deliver up to two working days of power. It has 16 kWh Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries with an input rating of 230 V and a current range of 10 A to 16 A. Output is 230 V and up to 32 A. Fast charging is possible too, taking just 2 h 15 min to go from 50% to 85% capacity when using a 16 A power supply.

Depending on the jobsite and local setup, customers can choose how and when they use PowerBoost™. For example, if used as a standalone source for lifting operations only, it can deliver an 8-hour workday with 50 load cycles. Alternatively, customers can use PowerBoost™ for set-up and tear-down, in which case it can perform these tasks twice on a single charge, including commissioning the crane. PowerBoost™ can be attached during transport and drive the crane when it is positioned via remote control.

If PowerBoost™ is used in conjunction with the local, on-site electricity supply, the two work together to regularly recharge the batteries, and the crane uses minimal grid power for better efficiency and cost savings.

The first Potain Igo M 24-19 equipped with PowerBoost™ was purchased by Valem, a Potain dealer for France. The first job was at a project to restore the old ramparts in the historic village of Hiers-Brouage in Charente-Maritime district, for local specialist contractor Hory-Chauvelin.