Caterpillar chairman and CEO, Doug Oberhelman, revealed at Bauma that the number of individual patents the company has filed for its new hybrid excavator, the 336E H, had reached 315.
The hybrid excavator, which is now in mass production, makes use of three main technologies: hydraulic accumulators that store energy from the braking of the swing of the upper structure; a patented value which manages restrictions and flows to control machine motion with no loss of power; and an electronic pump that manages engine power and transitions between the hydraulic hybrid power sources, engine and accumulator.
This means that from an operator perspective, the machine has the same function and power as ordinary 336E.
“The patents represent the state of the art innovation we’ve embedded in this product,” said Oberhelman. “This is the most revolutionary excavator to come to market in decades.”
Ken Gray, global product manager for large hydraulic excavators for Caterpillar’s excavation division, said that he expects that the hybrid technology will be standard on Cat excavators within 3-5 years, because of the improved fuel efficiency.
“What we think of as novel technology today will become standard excavator technology in 3-5 years, because it lowers fuel consumption so significantly that customers will be drawn to it.”
Additionally, said Gray, by adopting a hydraulic approach to hybridisation the company has ensured that the increase in price is not prohibitive.
Customers can save up to 25% fuel on the 336E H, compared with a regular 336E. In terms of up-front cost, Caterpillar estimates that a customer could pay off difference within 12 months of operation in the case of heavy utilisation, or 18-24 months under typical use, based on diesel prices in the US or Europe.
The first 336E H was purchased by a Norwegian contractor, Sten Antonsen, just two days after the product was announced, before the unit price was revealed, telling the local Cat dealer “I shall have such machine. Low fuel consumption is important and my company strives to be environmentally aware. Let’s make a deal.”
Antonsen was presented with a scale model of the machine at Bauma, having already placed an order for a second unit in January.
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