Heavy equipment maker Doosan Bobcat has unveiled the world’s first all-electric compact front-end loader, the Bobcat T7X, at CES 2022 – a major tradeshow for consumer electronics held every January in Las Vegas, USA.
The T7X is the first loader of its kind, fully powered by lithium-ion batteries, requiring no diesel fuel and producing zero emissions. Yet it boasts the same power and performance associated with traditional diesel-powered loaders.
The front-end loader has completely replaced the traditional hydraulic workgroup with an electrical drive system consisting of electric cylinders and electric drive motors, which means virtually no fluids. Plus, it only uses one quart of eco-friendly coolant compared to 57 gallons of fluid in its diesel-hydraulic equivalent model.
An all-electric platform enables instantaneous power and peak torque available at every operating speed, so the user doesn’t need to wait for the standard hydraulic system to build up power.
The company says the electric power of the T7X allows it to operate with reduced noise and vibration.
At the heart of the T7X is a powerful 62KW lithium-ion battery from technology partner Green Loader Equipment, which supports “intelligent work modes” programmed to sense when loads are increasing, automatically backing off power when not needed to preserve the total energy use and extend the loader’s runtime.
The company has also partnered with Sunbelt Rentals, a South Carolina-based rental equipment company with more than 1025 locations in North America.
Through this partnership, the rental company made a significant investment in ordering a large fleet of Bobcat T7X all-electric compact track loaders and excavators in the country, which will be co-branded and made available beginning this year.
“By making an investment in this first-of-its-kind, all-electric technology, we support our ESG objectives of empowering our customers and communities with the availability of alternative rental solutions that reduce emissions and noise,” said Brendan Horgan, CEO, Sunbelt Rentals.
To accompany the launch of the T7X, the company will also introduce the world’s first all-electric attachments to the front-end compact loader, including an auger to dig holes, an angle broom to sweep clean, and a grapple to grab and gold materials to support the compact loader’s tasks.
“Doosan Bobcat is at the forefront of innovation, and we are proud to debut the all-electric technology of the T7X to help customers maximize both sustainability and productivity,” said Scott Park, president and CEO, Doosan Bobcat. “Our focus remains on providing solutions and products that empower people to accomplish more and build a better world.”
The Bobcat T7X was honoured with two CES 2022 Innovation Awards in Vehicle Intelligence and Transporation and Smart Cities.
