Four years after it was teased during Conexpo 2020 as “Project Zeus,” the Case 580EV backhoe loader is now in full-scale production and headed to Case dealers in North America.
It becomes the industry’s first commercially available battery-electric powered backhoe. It comes as little surprise the company chooses to lead here, as Case has spent decades building its construction business around the backhoe loader category.
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Case also previewed two additional electric machines, the CX25EV mini excavator and CX36EV compact wheel loader, scheduled to hit Case dealers later this year.
These bring Case’s electric offerings up to five machines (the CX15EV mini excavator and SL22EV small articulated loader debuted at Conexpo 2023).
Unlike competitors such as Volvo Construction Equipment, Case has not promised the demise of diesel in any size category.
“We see EVs as a complement to diesel machines—another tool for the toolbox,” said Terry Dolan, VP, North America, for Case Construction Equipment. Dolan sees definite needs for electric, citing not only green contracts, but indoor work, noise-sensitive areas, and work during early mornings and late nights.
“From 2017 to 2022, the number of LEED-certified projects has grown 20% each year,” Dolan said.
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The four-wheel-drive 580EV is based on the company’s 580SN or “Super N.” The unit has the same dimensions and specs as the 580SN. They include a 14-foot dig depth with an Extendahoe feature to boost reach.
It’s powered by a 400-volt, 71-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery platform that is charged with the same type of Level 2 J1772 adapter found in automotive EVs. As for runtime, the unit is designed to deliver up to eight hours of operational run time on a single charge, depending on the application.
A charge from 0 to 100% takes about 7.5 hours, according to Case.
The battery platform also uses an advanced thermal management system with system-specific cooling circuits to better regulate temperatures and help maintain performance in hot or cold conditions.
The 580EV uses two independent electric motors for the PowerDrive transmission and hydraulic pumps feeding the loader, backhoe and steering systems to minimize energy consumption and improve performance in loading applications.
Case said it has no immediate plans to introduce mobile chargers for job sites.
