Bobcat Company recently showcased the capabilities of its battery-powered construction equipment lineup at a series of test drive and live demonstration events near Los Angeles in Granada Hills and in Stockton, California. This tour featured the Bobcat T7X all-electric compact track loader and two electric compact excavators, the E32e and E10e. Each of these new models are viable alternatives to diesel equipment for government and private fleets to reduce carbon footprints and reduce jobsite noise levels.
Attending the events included leaders from California Air Resources Board, City of Los Angeles, Port of Los Angeles, Stanislaus County and other public organizations, as well as Sunbelt Rentals, Bobcat dealers and construction contractors. Attendees had the opportunity to test drive the machines, participate in live demonstrations, and meet with the innovators behind the electric-powered off-road equipment.
“These electric, off-road construction machines are a promising step in our aim to increase access to clean off-road equipment that produces near-zero emissions in California,” said William Robertson, Ph.D., vehicle program specialist with the Mobile Source Control Division at California Air Resources Board. “The commercialization of cleaner off-road technologies shown at these events are exciting examples supporting the state’s transition to a clean energy economy.”
The Bobcat T7X, an all-electric compact track loader eliminates all hydraulic components, emissions and reduced vibrations. Debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2022, the T7X received two 2022 CES Innovation Awards in the Categories of Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation and Smart Cities. This was the first time the public was invited to experience the T7X since the launch of the machine at CES.
The traditional hydraulic work group has been completely replaced with an electrical drive system consisting of electric cylinders and electric drive motors, which means virtually no fluids. The new, all-electric T7X uses less than one gallon of eco-friendly coolant compared to 57 gallons of fluid in its diesel/hydraulic equivalent model.
With a compact footprint, quiet operation and zero emissions, the new E32e and E10e battery-powered compact excavators operate with performance that equals or exceeds diesel-powered machines. The electrical motors deliver full torque, regardless of rpm, providing top productivity, smooth hydraulic control and on-demand multifunctioning performance with no noticeable power drop.
Powered by lithium-ion batteries and producing zero emissions, the T7X and electric compact excavators support environmentally sensitive worksites. They allow users to operate inside structures where diesel exhaust is restricted. There are also significantly lower noise levels and vibration with these machines, which improves jobsite communication and safety, and allows work in sound-sensitive areas.
The Bobcat electric machines will deliver up to four hours of active work per charge depending on usage and the application. While applications vary, each charge can support common daily work operations and the use of work modes for up to four hours of continuous operation time and a full day of operation during intermittent use or a typical contractor workday.
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