Cummins & Hyundai Develop Mini-Excavator

Cummins Inc. and Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE) have announced a jointly developed electric powered mini-excavator.

HCE and Cummins agreed to collaborate on the design and development of electric powered mini-excavators. Powered by Cummins BM4.4E flexible battery modules (4.4 kWh each), the 3.5-ton excavator is designed to operate for a full eight-hour shift and charge in under three hours. The machine eliminates gaseous emissions and substantially reduces noise, making it applicable for use in urban and sub-urban construction.

The excavator contains eight BM4.4E modules connected together in a series string to provide a total energy of 35.2 kWh. Mounted in the base of the excavator, the Cummins-designed and built battery modules utilize Li-ion technology to achieve a higher energy density and proprietary control technology to maintain the battery state-of-charge for a longer zero emission range. The modular design allows the system to be built up and aligned to the duty cycle of the excavator.

 “As electric vehicles continue to expand their share in the automotive market, we are simultaneously seeing the electrification of commercial power systems being pursued by many as both an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable solution for construction equipment,” said D. S. Kim, HCE Senior Executive Vice president & CTO. “HCE anticipates mini excavators, which operate in urban workplaces close to residential areas, will be a prime candidate to electrify to meet zero-emission and low noise requirements in the near future.”

“This electric powered mini excavator is an exciting celebration of the future of electrified construction equipment – combining the strengths of HCE’s versatile excavator with Cummins’ lithium ion battery solutions and machine integration expertise,” said Julie Furber, executive director – Electrified Power. “Cummins is committed to pioneering the future of electrified power, and we look forward to continuing to partner with companies like HCE to design and test the industry’s latest technologies.”

The prototype machine will be used for testing to optimize the performance, prove the structural integrity and enhance the marketability.