Two New York utilities are using Case 580 EV backhoe loaders, the electric machine introduced at Conexpo last year, and early results are promising, according to Case.
New York State Gas & Electric and Rochester Gas & Electric each have a Case 580 EV electric backhoe loader. Electrification of the backhoe loader was performed in conjunction with New York companies Green Machine Equipment, Inc. and Moog Inc. Monroe Tractor in New York will support the machines in the field.
NYSEG and RG&E president/CEO Carl Taylor said that the deployment of electric construction equipment into the communities they serve is driven by sustainability and the desire to be responsible neighbors.
Terry Dolan, VP, North America, for Case, recently gave Construction Equipment a progress report on the EV's New York deployment.
"The response from the customers, on the use of it, the response has been great," Dolan says. "The runtime they’ve been getting from it, and they like the ability to operate in residential environments without a lot of the sound that you would have with a traditional unit.
"So we’re still on the journey, we’re still in the development; I’d say it’s similar to the Minotaur where it’s not about speed [to market], it’s about swiftness and making sure we’re getting the testing done with the customers, getting the response of the customers, understanding the changes that need to be made to that product to really give it what the contractors and utilities are looking for," Dolan says. "Over the coming years, you’ll see more and more innovation on [the 580 EV] until it gets in full production."
“At NYSEG and RG&E, the driving force behind all of our decisions is to put our customers first and care for the communities we serve,” he said in a prepared statement. “As an energy provider, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the environment and build a more sustainable future for our communities. The addition of this first-of-its-kind backhoe into our fleet will help us meet sustainability goals and benefit the communities we serve by providing a cleaner work environment in the form of emissions and noise reduction. It’s equipment like this that will drive our fleets, businesses and communities into the future.”
The 580 EV is powered by Green Machine’s proprietary 480-volt, 90-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion WhisperDrive battery pack that can be charged by any 220-volt connection. Although applications vary, each charge can support common eight-hour workdays. The battery separately powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors, resulting in hydraulic breakout forces equal to diesel-powered machines and improved performance during simultaneous loader and drivetrain operation, according to Case.
Case estimates that the 580 EV could save fleets as much as 90 percent in annual vehicle service and maintenance costs when taking into account the reduction/elimination of diesel, engine oil, diesel exhaust fluid, regular preventive maintenance, and long-term engine upkeep/maintenance (and the associated labor rates and time savings).
Source: Case Construction Equipment
