World’s first fully-electric tracked loader

Doosan Bobcat has unveiled what it says is the world’s first all-electric compact tracked loader, the new Bobcat T7X.

Making the announcement at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, US, Doosan Bobcat said that the T7X is the first machine of its kind to be fully electric, offering the benefits of eliminating hydraulic systems, components, emissions and vibrations while providing cleaner, quieter operation.

“Doosan Bobcat is at the forefront of innovation, and we are proud to debut the all-electric technology of the T7X to help customers maximise both sustainability and productivity,” said Scott Park, president and CEO of Doosan Bobcat Inc.

According to the company, the machine is, “fully battery-powered, built to be more productive from the ground up with electric actuation and propulsion, quieter with high-performance torque and more powerful than any diesel-fuelled track loader that has ever come before it – all while eliminating any carbon emissions.”

The traditional hydraulic work group has been replaced with an electrical drive system consisting of electric cylinders and electric drive motors, which means virtually no fluids. The T7X uses only one quart of eco-friendly coolant compared to 57 gallons of fluid in its diesel/hydraulic equivalent model.

The all-electric platform is said to enable instantaneous power and peak torque at every operating speed and, as it operates with zero emissions and reduced noise and vibration, it works quietly and efficiently in noise sensitive areas and indoors.

The T7X is powered by a 62KW lithium-ion battery from technology partner Green Machine Equipment. While applications vary, each charge can support common daily work operations – the use of intelligent work modes allows for up to four hours of continuous operation time, or a full day of operation with intermittent use.

Scott Park, President and CEO of Doosan Bobcat

To accompany the T7X, Bobcat will also introduce the world’s first all-electric attachments. The first to be developed include an electrically powered auger to dig holes, an angle broom to sweep clean and a grapple to grab and hold materials.

In an interview with International Construction in November 2021, Park emphasised the importance of electric equipment and innovation to construction. 

Doosan Bobcat also announced a strategic partnership with US-based Sunbelt Rentals, a leading rental equipment company with more than 1,000 locations. The rental firm committed to a significant investment in a large fleet of Bobcat T7X all-electric compact track loaders and electric compact excavators in North America, which will be co-branded and made available in 2022 and beyond.