It may not be mainstream yet, but heavy machinery powered by electricity is starting to hit the construction market. Case Construction recently announced that the company’s first 580 EV electric backhoe loaders were delivered and are currently working with utilities at New York State Gas & Electric and Rochester Gas & Electric. The backhoes require no diesel and produce zero emissions — while providing the power and performance associated with diesel-powered equipment.  

Electrification of the CASE 580 EV was performed in conjunction with Green Machine Equipment and Moog Inc. According to Case Construction, it is estimated that the 580 EV could save fleets as much as 90% in annual vehicle service and maintenance costs considering the reduction/elimination of diesel, engine oil, diesel exhaust fluid, regular preventive maintenance and long-term engine upkeep/maintenance. Those factors, the company believes, will eventually lead to smaller utilities and private contractors making the jump to electric equipment.

“These utilities are at the forefront of living the clean-energy promise in their communities, and their use of electrically powered equipment like the CASE 580 EV shows that fleets can be clean while also delivering where it counts in the field,” says Leandro Lecheta, head of construction — North America, CASE Construction Equipment. “We share that commitment to develop and stand behind equipment that meets sustainability and productivity goals, while also being good for the communities we work in together.”      

The 580 EV is powered by Green Machine’s 480-volt, 90-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion WhisperDrive battery pack that is charged by a 220-volt connection. While 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 the manufacturer. 

The 580 EV is the first formal entry into the electric equipment market for CASE. 

“We’re proving the viability of electrification at the larger end of the compact and light equipment spectrum,” says Eric Zieser, director of the global compact equipment product line for CASE. “Our goal now is to further expand electrification and alternative propulsion into other product lines and markets that will also see the benefits from these advances related to sustainability and performance.” 866-542-2736; www.casece.com