Claimed benefits of the battery-powered T7X, Bobcat’s first electric skid-steer loader, include instantaneous power and peak torque at every operating speed, reduced noise and vibration and zero emissions.
The traditional hydraulic system has been ditched for an electrical version comprising electric cylinders and drive motors and the T7X uses less than one litre of coolant compared to around 216 litres in its diesel/hydraulic equivalent model.
Electricity is provided by a 62kW lithium-ion battery (100hp equivalent). Applications vary, but each charge is said to support common daily work operations and the use of intelligent work modes for up to four hours of continuous operation time and a full day of operation during intermittent use. The power management system is programmed to sense when loads are increasing, automatically reducing power when not needed to extend running times.
With an operating weight of 5.5t, the T7X will initially be available only in North America, but the company intends to expand this to other regions, including Europe, in the future.
