Komatsu seeking to create market for electric equipment
Manufacturer ready to launch new 20-tonne class electric excavators with lithium-ion batteries
KOMATSU Ltd are planning to introduce 20-tonne class PC200LCE-11 and PC210LCE-11 electric excavators equipped with lithium-ion batteries as rental machines in the Japanese and European markets as early as October 2023.
In their drive to become carbon neutral by 2050, Komatsu regard the introduction of these new models as an opportunity to develop a market for electric construction equipment as soon as possible. They also plan to gradually introduce these electric models in Asia, North America, and Australia.
The Japanese manufacturer has been jointly developing these electric models since January 2021 with California-based electric vehicle system specialists Proterra, who have a proven track record for high-load handling and commercial vehicles in various fields around the world.
Proterra provide the new machines with their lithium-ion batteries. After conducting proof of concept tests at customer jobsites, Komatsu exhibited one of the new models at bauma 2022 last October and at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 in March this year.
Komatsu are now ready to introduce them to the rental market and say that by using them under various operating conditions and with different power supply environments in regions where the electrified market is expected to be formed in the future, customers will be able to experience their environmental friendliness and safety, while Komatsu will compile feedback, opinions, and knowledge to lead to the formation of the electrified market.
By launching these models, Komatsu say they are working to create an electrified machine market for medium-size construction equipment. The 20-tonne and other medium-class excavators, in particular, are used on a wide range of jobsites and applications, centring on excavating and loading earth and sand.
By using their proprietary matching technology, Komatsu have optimized the overall vehicle control system by co-ordinating Proterra’s lithium-ion battery with machine components such as hydraulic pumps, controllers, and electric motors for work equipment operation.
Komatsu say they have also developed a robust battery-protection structure and provided these new electric machines with an excavation performance and durability that is equivalent to those of engine-driven hydraulic excavators.
