Briggs & Stratton, Pratt Miller Team Up to Push System-Level Electrification in Heavy-Duty Equipment

Two engineering-focused companies are teaming up to make electrification more practical on real job sites.

 

Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton, through its Vanguard brand, has partnered with Pratt Miller to develop integrated electrification systems for demanding environments. The collaboration combines Vanguard’s battery technology with Pratt Miller’s system-level engineering expertise.

 

The effort is centered on how electric power actually performs in places like warehouses, industrial facilities and construction sites, where equipment is pushed hard and downtime is not an option.

 

 

“What excites us most is partnering with a provider that brings production-ready, field-proven solutions to a maturing electrification market," said Bob Prohaska, director of mobility & innovation at Pratt Miller. "Our shared vision is to accelerate the deployment of systems that deliver a measurable return on investment. By integrating Vanguard’s robust battery platform, we can offer our customers compact solutions that lower operating costs, reduce maintenance complexity and expand use cases, especially in environments where emissions and noise constraints limit traditional equipment.”

 

Instead of retrofitting batteries into existing machines, the two companies are building systems from the ground up. That means engineering how the battery, power electronics and controls work together from the start, with performance and durability in mind.

 

 

That level of integration is becoming harder to ignore as more industries move toward electrification. A battery on its own is only part of the equation. It has to fit into a system that can handle heavy workloads without taking up more space than the equipment allows. Vanguard’s modular battery design is meant to address that, offering strong energy output in a compact footprint.

 

“Welcoming Pratt Miller into our Battery Technology Partner program allows us to push system-level innovation further by combining electrification with advanced controls and performance optimization,” said David Frank, Senior Vice President and President of Electrification at Briggs & Stratton. “The transition to electrification requires more than just a battery; it requires a cohesive, engineered system that performs in the most demanding environments. Pratt Miller’s ability to optimize the entire architecture from power electronics to mechanical systems leverages Vanguard technology to its full potential.”

 

 

Support and service also play a role. Vanguard battery systems are assembled in the U.S. and backed by Briggs & Stratton’s global service network, along with an eight-year commercial limited warranty. For companies weighing a move away from fuel-powered equipment, that kind of support can carry real weight.

 

For Pratt Miller, known for solving complex engineering challenges, the partnership is a chance to apply that expertise to electrification across a wider range of industries.

 

It is another sign that electrification is moving out of the experimental phase and into everyday equipment. The focus is shifting toward performance, cost and how well these systems hold up in real conditions. By focusing on complete, integrated solutions, the two companies are trying to move that transition forward in a practical way.

 

Source: Briggs & Stratton