CASE Invents The First Fully Electric Loader Backhoe: The Project Zeus 580 EV

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CASE says that its lithium-ion battery-powered 580 EV is the first fully electric backhoe loader in the construction industry. (Photo courtesy of CASE.)

CASE says that its new 580 EV (Electric Vehicle) is the first fully electric backhoe loader in the construction industry. The lithium-ion battery-powered machine, aka “Project Zeus,” is designed to run for a full 8-hour workday in most applications before needing to recharge.

The Same, Only Better

As the manufacturer puts it, the 580 EV provides “performance equivalent to its diesel counterpart while also providing instant torque, lower jobsite noise, lower daily and lifetime operating costs, reduced maintenance demands, and absolutely zero emissions.”

“The 580 EV performs like a CASE backhoe—matching the power and performance expected from CASE with the advantages of an electrified machine,” says the director of the firm’s global compact equipment products, Eric Zieser. “Operators will experience the same digging, lifting, and craning performance achieved in a diesel-powered machine in a quieter, emissions-free work area.”

Cleaner, Cheaper Operation

CASE says that the 580 EV could save fleets up to 90% per year in fuel, service, and maintenance costs. Because of its money-saving attributes, the manufacturer says that the higher initial cost of a 580 EV can be recouped in about five years.

The loader backhoe relies on a 480-volt, 90-kilowatt-hour li-ion battery pack. It can recharge through any 220-volt, three-phase source. Because the battery powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors separately, CASE says, the 580 EV can operate both simultaneously and achieve hydraulic breakout forces equal to a diesel-powered model.

The electric machine even edges out its fossil fuel-burning counterparts in responsiveness. “At low idle a diesel engine has reduced torque and requires time for the engine to ramp up to meet the load demands,” says Zieser. “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 and can run for 8 hours on a charge. (Photo courtesy of CASE.)

A Collaboration

CASE developed the 580 EV in conjunction with Green Machine and Moog, and with input from utilities and businesses. Michelin assisted the effort by coming up with special new CrossGrip all-season tires with reinforced radial construction and reduced rolling resistance.

The loader backhoe’s high-visibility cab comes with new and improved joystick controls, premium seat options, and Bluetooth radio. Its Comfort Steer feature makes truck loading and tight turning easier, while its ProControl feature facilitates precision in the movement and placement of the boom.

We'll Make More

CASE has already delivered two 580 EVs to a pair of utilities customers and can produce more this year. As demand rises, the company can ramp up production, it says.

"We're proving the viability of electrification at the larger end of the compact and light equipment spectrum," says Zieser. "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."

Source: CASE