Komatsu’s Hybrid PC200LC-8 Excavator is put to work in Los Angeles

Late in 2009, Komatsu America introduced the first of ten Hybrid PC200LC-8 excavators into the U.S. market to test the innovative equipment that was designed to reduce environmental impact by saving fuel and reducing green house emissions.

On March 11, representatives from Komatsu, along with representatives from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the contractor Griffith Co. and Savala Equipment Co. Inc. — which has been using a Hybrid PC200LC-8 — gathered for a demonstration of the hybrid excavator at work at the Port of Los Angeles.

“We’re really in the process of seeing a complete transformation of this port as well as the trucking and construction industries,” noted Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board. “We’re actually cleaning the air one piece of equipment at a time, and the machine being showcased today and others are going to help us meet our goals of energy efficiency and diversification of the fuel supply.”

The Komatsu hybrid excavator is one of a number of other kinds of “green” machines that the Port of Los Angeles has introduced or tested, resulting in reduced diesel emissions that comply with a Clean Air Action Plan that was adopted in November 2006 by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Brea-based contractor Griffith Co. has seen positive results with the Hybrid PC200LC-8. Dan McGrew, VP of Business Development for the Griffith Co. said that they were skeptical at first, but the hybrid excavator “surpassed all expectations while using 30 percent less fuel.” McGrew noted that the hybrid excavator has a shorter cycle time than a conventional excavator, and concluded, that Komatsu’s Hybrid PC200LC-8 is a “fantastic machine.”

There are 700 of Komatsu’s hybrid excavators already in use at construction sites in China and Japan. “Komatsu’s decision to apply its engineering excellence to the largest construction machine segment clearly signals our commitment to developing environment-friendly equipment,” said Dave Grzelak, chairman and CEO of Komatsu America Corp.

Powered by the Komatsu Hybrid System, the Hybrid PC200LC-8 uses a newly developed electric swing motor, power generator motor, capacitor and diesel engine. Komatsu developed its revolutionary hybrid system to work on the principle of swing energy regeneration and energy storage using the Komatsu Ultra Capacitor system.  Komatsu’s Ultra Capacitors provide fast energy storage and instantaneous power transmission.

In tests comparing the standard PC200LC-8 hydraulic excavator to the Hybrid PC200LC-8, the hybrid model reduced fuel consumption by approximately 25 to 40 percent , depending on the application.