CASE Brings Home A Good Design Award For Its Project Zeus 580 EV Battery-Electric Loader Backhoe

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CASE’s lithium-ion battery-powered 580 EV loader backhoe has won a 2020 Good Design Award. (Photo courtesy of CASE.)

CASE Construction Equipment’s first fully electric loader backhoe, the 580 EV (Electric Vehicle) aka “Project Zeus,” has won a Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and Metropolitan Arts Press. The annual award is presented for innovation and “cutting-edge industrial, product, and graphic designs.”

The zero-emissions 580 EV was recognized for its CASE heritage-inspired modern design, its lighting and backlighting, its metallic “Power Tan” color scheme, and its intuitive operator interface. The 2020 Good Design award is CASE’s third in four years.

Attractive Qualities

“The electrification of construction equipment, and the focus on sustainable power sources and machine ownership/operation, are all driving forces for public and private fleet owners around the world,” says CNH Industrial North America head of construction, Leandro Lecheta. “The CASE 580 EV accomplishes this through the elimination of emissions, diesel, and other fluids and components, while also delivering a machine design anchored in trusted CASE backhoe performance.”

The lithium-ion battery-powered 580 EV is designed to run for a full 8-hour workday in most applications on a single charge. CASE says that it delivers the same power and performance as a similar, diesel-powered backhoe with “considerably lower” daily operating costs. In fact, the manufacturer says that the 580 EV could save fleets up to 90% per year in fuel, service, and maintenance costs. The 580 EV also generates less noise than diesel machines and provides much quicker torque and responsiveness.

All of these attributes, along with the 580 EV’s emission-free operation, make the unit attractive to utility and government contractors looking to lower their carbon footprint as they work on urban projects near homes and businesses.

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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 CASE.)

The Nitty-Gritty

The CASE 580 EV’s electric motors are driven by a 480-volt, 90-kilowatt-hour Li-ion battery pack. It can recharge via any 220-volt, three-phase source. The battery powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors separately and can operate both simultaneously. The loader backhoe’s Comfort Steer feature assists with truck loading and tight turning, while its ProControl feature makes boom movement and placement more precise. The machine rides on specially designed Michelin CrossGrip all-season tires with reinforced radial construction and reduced rolling resistance.

Finally, the 580 EV features a high-visibility cab with new and improved joystick controls, premium seat options, and Bluetooth radio.

Source: CASE