CASE 580 EV Battery-Electric Loader Backhoes Help New York Utilities Cut Operating Costs, Noise, Emissions

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National Grid and other New York utility companies are trying out CASE’s lithium-ion battery-powered 580 EV loader backhoe. (Photo courtesy of CNH Industrial.)

CASE Construction Equipment has delivered a pair of its 580 EV lithium-ion battery-electric loader backhoes to utility companies in New York. The zero-emission machines, which CASE says perform as well as a diesel model and support an 8-hour workday, went to AVANGRID subsidiaries New York State Gas & Electric and Rochester Gas & Electric. (National Grid got one earlier this year.) New York-based Monroe Tractor will support the backhoe loaders in the field.

“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,” says NYSEG and RG&E President and CEO Carl Taylor. “It’s equipment like this that will drive our fleets, businesses, and communities into the future.”

Instant Torque

The CASE 580 EV, aka “Project Zeus,” is based on the diesel-powered 580 N EP backhoe loader. “The backhoe is ideal for electrification as the varied-use cycles, from heavy to light work, provide an excellent opportunity to convert wasted diesel engine hours into zero consumption battery time, yet provide the operator with instantaneous torque response when needed,” says CASE North American compact equipment product lead Brad Stemper. “At low idle a diesel engine has reduced torque and requires time for the engine to ramp up to meet the load demands. Electric motors, on the other hand, have instantaneous torque and peak torque available at every operating speed.”

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CASE says that the electric 580 EV performs as well as a diesel model and can run for 8 hours on a charge. (Photo courtesy of CNH Industrial.)

WhisperDrive

The 580 EV’s electric motors are driven by a 480-volt, 90-kilowatt-hour WhisperDrive battery pack developed by CASE partner Green Machine. Any 220-volt, three-phase source is suitable for recharging it, according to the manufacturer. The battery powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors separately, and can operate both of them simultaneously.

CASE estimates that the 580 EV can save fleets up to 90% per year in fuel, service, and maintenance costs as compared to its diesel equivalent. The loader backhoe is also much quieter. These attributes, along with the lack of emissions, can help utility and government contractors meet or surpass requirements on urban projects.

Source: CNH Industrial