Bobcat launches world first all-electric skid-steer loader

Some 60 years after inventing the famous compact skid-steer loader, Bobcat has now launched an all-electric model, the Bobcat S7X.

Launched at the Las Vegas Conexpo construction trade show, the new all-electric Bobcat is set to be an instant hit with much lower running costs than diesel machines, and the added health benefit to operators of not having any dangerous exhaust pollution.

“At Bobcat, we are always pushing the boundaries to explore the next leading advancements that help our customers accomplish more and propel the industry forward,” said Scott Park, Doosan Bobcat CEO and vice chairman.

“As an organisation, we are committed to innovating for our customers’ needs first and foremost, so that they can become more efficient, more productive and more successful.”

The all-electric S7X is powered by a 60.5kWh, lithium-ion battery, features electric drive motors and uses ball screw actuators for lift and tilt functions.

The company says that the battery and electric powertrain generate incredible performance characteristics “with instantaneous torque that is as much as three times greater than traditional loaders.”

“The powerful loader balances sustainability and performance with zero emissions and is equipped to outperform its diesel-powered equivalent. ” the company said in a press release.

The other benefits of the electric skid-steer loader are smoother and more comfortable operation thanks to minimal vibration and nearly silent operation compared to noisy combustion engine models.

Doosan Bobcat vice president of global innovation, Joel Honeyman said. “As the inventor of the original skid-steer loader, we are excited to take the machine that created the industry and reinvent it all over again,”

The company says the S7X can operate for up to 8 hours on a single charge depending on the application. This gives most operators more than a full day’s work when breaks and downtime are considered. A full charge takes approximately 10 hours.

The company says the S7X is being debuted as a prototype with plans to move to commercialisation. Additional information will be released to the marketplace as product development continues.