Electric Loaders: Case’s Two E-Loaders and Its 580EV Backhoe
Case Construction Equipment is in the process of expanding its family of battery-powered electric vehicles, now totaling five models. Case began with two models in 2023 and is adding three more now and into the coming months. Two of these five are mini excavators, which are discussed over here, but the other three loader product categories are a small articulated loader, a compact wheel loader and the industry’s first electric backhoe loader. Case currently offers the electric SL22EV small articulated loader for sale. This 2.2-metric-ton model brings powerful lifting capability to a small, maneuverable vehicle.
Just announced, Case is now making the CL36EV — a larger 3.6-metric-ton compact wheel loader — available in the coming months, and the construction industry’s first electric backhoe loader — the 580EV — that’s available now. The 580EV brings all the power and capability of Case’s long-running 580 backhoe family, with new technology features and zero emissions. To learn about electric loaders, both Case and otherwise, we sat down with Brady Lewis, product manager for emerging products and technology at Case Construction Equipment. This is what he had to say.
CE: Brady, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to Compact Equipment. We’re really big fans of Case equipment, and we really dig its commitment to the electric market. So for starters, can you give us a quick summary of Case’s battery-powered loaders?
Lewis: Of course. Case Construction Equipment is in the process of adding to its family, with five different battery-powered electric vehicles. Case began with two models in 2023 and will have three more available in the coming months. Two of these five are mini excavators, but the other three cover the product categories of small articulated loader, compact wheel loader and the industry-first electric backhoe loader.
Case offers the SL22EV small articulated loader for sale now. This 2.2-metric-ton model brings powerful lifting capability to a small, maneuverable vehicle. Coming soon, the SL22EV will be joined by a larger, commercially available 3.6 metric ton compact wheel loader — the CL36EV. In addition, 2024 will also see full production of the construction industry’s first electric backhoe loader — the 580EV.
Which types of markets and contractors will be popular for electric construction equipment? Rental? Indoor applications? Give us a few popular apps and then some super niche ones.
Many customers are taking advantage of the zero emissions benefits of electric vehicles to meet regulatory or bid requirements in a variety of construction applications. We also see a lot of customers working indoors without the challenges of managing exhaust or cost of scrubbers. The low noise from electric vehicles brings several advantages beyond just emissions. We’ve seen landscaping contractors able to work in backyards early in the morning without disturbing the neighborhood, and customers in both agricultural and aquacultural settings have observed that the low noise of electric vehicles is an advantage when working around animals.
What is the cost premium when buying or renting electric and battery-powered equipment? How much more will it cost? Percentage? How much does your unit(s) cost?
The up-front cost of electric vehicles is certainly more than a traditional diesel-powered model. The specific technology used and the type of electrical architecture can create some variability, but we see in our lineup and across the industry a range of 1.75x to 2.5x premium for electric vehicles. This additional cost may be offset by government incentives/grants, depending on the region. In addition, over time the owner of an electric vehicle is realizing savings in fuel costs vs. electricity and maintenance savings by not having an engine.
What are the advantages of using electric and battery-powered equipment? Fuel savings? Noise? Smell? Vibration?
Electric vehicles bring several advantages over a combustion-powered model. With zero onsite emissions, the vehicles meet many bid or regulatory requirements, contribute to sustainability targets and allow operation indoors. Low noise creates a safer and less fatiguing jobsite, has less disruption for the surrounding community and may allow operation in noise-sensitive environments like schools or hospitals. Reduced maintenance not only lowers operating costs, but also increases availability of the vehicle.
Does electrification allow other new technologies to be engineered into loaders?
Case sees several technologies that are available on larger equipment migrating down to smaller electric models. For example, with electronic control inputs, there are several ways to customize control feedback and machine reactions to improve operator productivity. In addition, the full suite of telematics capabilities, normally found on larger models, is also available in our electric models.
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What are the charging options for your battery-powered machines? How long will your units operate with one charge?
The charging capabilities differ based on the electrical system architecture in the specific model. Case’s smaller models utilize forklift technology running at 48 or 96V. These models have integrated onboard chargers with a simple cord that plugs into an outlet and are designed to charge overnight. They also have off-board fast chargers for those applications that require faster charging speeds. Case’s larger models, like the 580EV backhoe loader, are using automotive technology. This model runs a much higher 400V architecture and therefore can charge using the common SAE J1772 automotive standard.
Run times for electric vehicle models can vary significantly based on the model due to different battery sizes and different customer applications. Case publishes specific time estimates for each model to cover the most common applications, but ultimately it is a highly variable number based on the task being performed.
What types of batteries are engineered into your electric units? What’s the type and chemistry? Do you see different chemistries entering the market?
Case uses lithium-ion batteries in all of our electric vehicles, but the specific chemistry varies from model to model. Specific chemistries are chosen to optimize the energy density and performance based on the application the machine will be used in. While there is a lot of research and development going in different battery chemistries, we expect that the construction industry will follow the direction from the automotive world. The resources and volumes in the on-highway world will prove out new technologies, which will then propagate to the off-highway industry.
What are your thoughts on swappable batteries?
Swappable batteries have some advantages, but there are also some disadvantages when trying to use them on large equipment. It’s relatively simple to swap out the battery pack on a cordless drill or even a leaf blower, but the technical challenges grow with the energy required. Batteries for construction equipment are large, heavy and difficult to handle without special tools and equipment. They are often engineered as integral components of a vehicle to manage packaging or weight constraints.
In addition, the high-voltage connections between battery and vehicle must be carefully engineered to ensure safety and reliability when designing for thousands or tens of thousands of disconnections and reconnections. Case does not offer any models with swappable batteries today. Our development focus is on improving charging capabilities and reducing charging time of a fixed battery, similar to what is seen in the automotive world.
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What new maintenance items will owners and operators need to learn when maintaining a battery-powered piece of equipment? What old maintenance items can they forget about?
One of the advantages of electric vehicles is that there is less required maintenance than on a traditional diesel-powered machine. Owners and operators need to be aware of the machine state of charge and keep the machine charged and ready for the next workday. Case machines have sophisticated battery management systems that take care of battery health, but we do recommend that operators fully charge the battery at least once every 30 days. Fortunately, owners can forget about the maintenance required for their engine, whether that’s engine oil and filter, air intake filters or exhaust aftertreatment systems like diesel particulate filters or urea injection systems.
What advice would you give a contractor looking to buy an electric loader?
We would recommend a contractor look closely at the energy flow through their jobsite. Where and how will they charge an electric vehicle? How does the energy capacity of the machine compare with the energy needs of their operation? We often see people overestimate the amount of energy needed. Just because the workers are at the jobsite for 10 hours doesn’t mean that the machine is necessarily operating the entire time. Diesel machines spend a significant portion of their life idling, which on an electric vehicle is consuming very little energy. A great way to evaluate if an electric vehicle will work for a given operation is to have a rental or a short-term demo to really try it in a real-world environment.
What trends do you see in the battery-powered equipment industry market overall? Are buyers gravitating toward certain sizes or technologies? Are there certain regions where sales are increasing or decreasing?
From a product standpoint, we see a greater variety and more sophisticated machines coming in the future. Think about that electric vehicles are at the very beginning of their development life compared to the diesel machines that are over 100 years old. As technology improves, especially as it migrates from automotive, we expect to see the capabilities of machines improve and become viable options for larger and larger equipment. Case has followed a strategy of starting with small products and moving towards larger ones as the technology is ready.
Awesome info, Brady. Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
At Case, we see electric vehicles as another tool in the toolbox for contractors. Our diesel lineup provides all of the power and capability that Case has built our reputation on for over 180 years. Electric vehicles are a new trend in our industry and are becoming a critical part of the landscape for some applications and regions. We expect that the importance of EVs will grow in the future and are working to introduce EV models now to give our customers the tools they need today and also to learn and improve for future iterations.
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
