Komatsu To Emphasize Electric & Sustainable Solutions At ConExpo

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One of three electric excavators that Komatsu will showcase at ConExpo, the PC210LCE has reached up to nine hours of operation in manufacturer testing. (Photo courtesy of Komatsu.)

Electric and hybrid excavators, an electric wheel loader concept, battery technologies, and power-charging advancements are among the electric and sustainable solutions Komatsu will showcase at the 2023 ConExpo construction show next week in Las Vegas. At booth W42044, the company will also feature its newly rebranded Komatsu MVT-II 600 crusher that uses tension instead of compression to use up to 90% less energy, depending on the situation. Komatsu has indicated that it intends to reduce its global carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2030 and to achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2050.

Electric & Hybrid Excavators

Komatsu says the 20-ton (18-metric-ton) PC210LCE, PC30E mini, and PC01E micro electric excavators the manufacturer will highlight at ConExpo will be available this year in select markets. The PC210LCE, set for availability in North America, uses lithium-ion battery technology from Proterra that provides 451 kilowatt-hours of battery capacity, good for up to eight hours of operation, although Komatsu says it has achieved nine hours in tests. The PC30E provides vibration-free operation and is suitable for use indoors, on urban construction jobsites, and for landscaping work. It’s powered by a fast-charging 35-kWh battery that feeds a 17.4-kilowatt electric motor.

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Komatsu will highlight a portable charging concept at ConExpo designed in concert with Proterra. The charger is designed for off-grid jobsites and locations where power is either unavailable or unreliable. (Image courtesy of Komatsu.)

Komatsu jointly developed the PC01E with Honda. The machine is powered by portable and swappable mobile batteries and is well-suited for working in confined spaces on landscaping, agriculture, and construction jobsites. The hybrid HB365LC-3 excavator, meanwhile, has a hybrid system that can supply an additional 70 horsepower (52 kW) on demand. In power mode, the machine is designed to be 15% more productive. It’s also 20% more fuel-efficient and emits 20% less CO2 than Komatsu’s diesel-powered PC360LC-11.

Charging To The Future

Komatsu will highlight three types of charging infrastructure at ConExpo, including a Komatsu Generation 2 charger that can step voltage up or down to meet differing charging requirements. The transportable solution has a universal Combined Charging System (CCS) plug for AC and DC charging. It has an input range of 400 to 1,140 volts and an output range of 300 to 900 V. A Proterra portable charging concept, meanwhile, is designed to operate in off-grid locations or where on-site power isn’t accessible or reliable. Finally, a compact, portable charging concept is built to work with mini excavators and other electric equipment on sites that lack a power supply.

Source: Komatsu