Case Construction Equipment unveiled “Project Zeus” — the 580 EV (electric vehicle), a fully electric backhoe loader.
“The 580 EV is a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainability, the evolution of earthmoving equipment and truly practical innovation that drives real savings and competitive advantages for backhoe owners,” said Leandro Lecheta, head of construction equipment — North America, CNH Industrial.
The power and performance of the 580 EV is equivalent to other diesel-powered backhoes in the Case product line and provides considerably lower daily operating costs while also producing zero emissions, according to the company.
“The backhoe loader is perfectly suited 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,” said Eric Zieser, director — global compact equipment product line, Case. “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.”
Electrification was performed in conjunction with Green Machine Equipment and Moog and with direct input from utilities and other businesses focused on converting significant portions of their fleets to fully electric backhoes.
The 580 EV is powered by a 480-volt, 90-kilowatt-hour, lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged by any 220-volt/three-phase connection. While applications will vary, each charge will support most common eight-hour workdays. The battery separately powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors.
Each 580 EV comes standard with Case SiteWatch telematics for additional monitoring and management of machine performance and utilization. It retains features such as ProControl, as well as Comfort Steer. The machine’s cab is spacious with large windows that provide excellent sight lines to all sides of the machine. It also features the new and enhanced joystick controls found in the most recent generation of Case N Series backhoes, as well as in-cab amenities such as premium seat options and Bluetooth radio.
Case has partnered with Michelin on tires for two of its alternative-powered equipment solutions — the methane-powered ProjectTetra wheel loader and now the 580 EV backhoe loader. The 580 EV backhoe loader includes Michelin CrossGrip tires that feature a nondirectional tread design and provide exceptional handling, comfort and high-load capacity for operation on a variety of surface conditions from asphalt to snow.
The Michelin CrossGrip is a multipurpose radial tire designed for use on the road, grass and snow. Using a special rubber compound, this four-season tire is designed for high-load-capacity use on loaders, backhoes, telehandlers and tractors. With 196 tread blocks per wheel rotation, the tire achieves driver comfort by reducing vibration. Asymmetrical lateral blocks help to provide good traction in winter conditions when short starting and stopping distances are imperative for safety. Reinforced for excellent puncture resistance, CrossGrip is designed to offer increased productivity and can be studded for ice usage.
Compact dozer loader
Case also debuted the DL550B — a fully integrated compact dozer loader.
The DL550B leverages the footprint of a compact track loader (CTL) with the chassis-integrated C-frame and blade of a dozer to create a powerful two-in-one machine for grading and loading applications.
The DL550B features a true dozer-style undercarriage for optimal dozing performance and is available in either steel or rubber track configurations to provide contractors with extreme flexibility based on the types of turf/jobs they work on. It will also feature Case Universal Machine Control and will be compatible with Case SiteControl CoPilot, which provides a mastless machine control experience with basic control of slope/grade.
The machine weighs approximately 18,000 pounds and operates at 114 hp. It is also available with an optional fully integrated ripper and is compatible with a wide range of heavy-duty attachments.
The DL550B features a six-way blade and a C-frame that attaches directly into the chassis and primary coupler of the machine. This design provides the stability and smooth operating plane of a small dozer and ensures that all operating power and stress is channeled through the chassis instead of the attachment coupler and arms of the machine (compared to a basic dozer blade attachment on a CTL), according to the company.
To transition to a CTL-style operation, the operator hydraulically detaches the C-frame and blade to match up with a bucket, forks or hundreds of other attachments available for skid-steers and CTLs. The machine comes standard with a 1.25-cubic-yard bucket, available with either a cutting edge or SmartFit teeth system.
The DL550B includes an evolution from radial to a vertical lift geometry and an increase in rated operating capacity from 4,500 pounds up to 5,500 pounds (at 50 percent tipping load). It offers auxiliary hydraulic options that exceed any of the CTLs in the current Case lineup — up to 40 gallons per minute at 4,100 psi.
The DL550B features electro-hydraulic dozer joysticks that also operate similar to ISO controls in skid-steers and CTLs. Forward and reverse travel and steering is controlled with the left hand while boom and bucket controls are manipulated by the right hand when operating in CTL mode. Those same right-hand controls operate the lift, angle and tilt functions of the six-way blade when in dozer mode. Case dozer features such as blade shake, as well as manual pitch adjustment, are also incorporated.
The machine is compatible with a full complement of 2D and 3D machine control solutions. It will be available with Case Universal Machine Control and compatible with Case SiteControl CoPilot.
The machine includes an 8-inch LCD multifunction display that serves as its control center, an integrated backup camera, core machine settings, trip meters, service interval information and machine operating status details similar to an automotive dashboard. It’s also available with Case SiteWatch telematics.
