Caterpillar will introduce new electric and battery prototypes at bauma 2022, an international trade fair showcasing equipment and machinery.
The battery electric machine prototypes include the 301.9 mini excavator, 320 medium excavator, 950 GC medium wheel loader and 906 compact wheel loader. The machines are powered by Caterpillar battery prototypes and include an onboard AC charger. The company said it also plans to offer an offboard DC fast charging option.
“Caterpillar is well positioned to help customers reach their sustainability goals, including lowering emissions on the jobsite,” said Tony Fassino, construction industries group president for Caterpillar. “It’s important we meet customers on their sustainability journey today with a variety of solutions including machines that run on renewable fuels or technology that increases fuel efficiency, as well as supporting them into the future as we power our next generation of machines.”
The Caterpillar-designed batteries in these machines will also be available to power other industrial applications according to the company. The lithium-ion battery range features a modular design that offers flexible configurations across multiple applications. Caterpillar said the batteries are engineered to be scalable to industry and customer performance needs and maximize sustainability throughout their lifecycle, including recycling and reuse at the end of life.
“Our electrified products leverage our deep system integration experience and are designed to meet the performance expectations that customers have come to expect from Caterpillar,” said Joe Creed, Energy & Transportation Group president. “We’re focused on helping our customers achieve the optimal product and job site energy lifecycle, allowing them to maximize value and minimize their total cost of operation.”
Caterpillar said the 301.9 mini-excavator and 906 compact wheel loader are expected to be the first commercially available models.
