Bobcat Company ("Bobcat"), a global leader in compact equipment innovation, recently demonstrated the capabilities of its battery-powered construction equipment lineup at a series of test drives and live demonstrations in Granada Hills and Stockton, California, near Los Angeles. The Bobcat T7X all-electric compact track loader and two electric compact excavators, the E32e and E10e, were highlighted on this one-of-a-kind tour. Each of these new models is a viable option to diesel equipment for government and private fleets trying to cut carbon emissions and noise levels on the jobsite.
Leaders from the California Air Resources Board, the City of Los Angeles, the Port of Los Angeles, Stanislaus County, and other government agencies, as well as Sunbelt Rentals, Bobcat dealers, and construction firms, attended the events. Attendees were able to test drive the machines, watch live demonstrations, and speak with the inventors behind the electric-powered off-road vehicles.
“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,” Ge further added, “The commercialization of cleaner off-road technologies shown at these events are exciting examples supporting the state’s transition to a clean energy economy.”
William Robertson, Ph.D., vehicle program specialist with the Mobile Source Control Division at the California Air Resources Board
Bobcat is the first company in the compact size range to market an all-electric construction machine. Sunbelt Rentals, a leading equipment rental firm with over 1,050 locations across North America, is the first to purchase a large fleet of T7X loaders and electric compact excavators. Beginning in July, Sunbelt Rental clients in California and other parts of the United States will be able to rent these pieces of equipment.
The all-electric Bobcat T7X compact track loader is the first of its kind, with no hydraulic components, fewer pollutants, and decreased vibrations. The T7X got two 2022 CES Innovation Awards in the categories of Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation and Smart Cities after its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2022. This was the first opportunity for the general public to try out the T7X since its debut at CES.
The new E32e and E10e battery-powered compact excavators have a compact footprint, silent operation, and zero emissions, and perform as well as or better than diesel-powered equipment. The electrical motors give full torque at any rpm, which allows for high productivity, smooth hydraulic control, and the ability to do more than one thing at any time without a noticeable loss of power.