Current perceptions of hybrid technology in heavy equipment may be redefined with the imminent New Zealand launch of the new Cat 336E hybrid excavator.
Gough Cat’s global core industries product manager John Overhill says, “The hybrid is the product of five years of development and testing in harsh conditions. It’s proven to deliver no loss in digging performance when compared to the 336 E Series and D Series standard machines.”
If you are looking for a large machine to do more work with significantly less fuel, then the new Cat 336E hybrid could be the answer. Using patented hydraulic hybrid technology, the revolutionary new Cat 336E hybrid excavator collects and releases energy during machine operation. This means the harder it works, the more money there is to be saved.
“The bottom line is the hydraulic hybrid system is a simple, reliable, and cost-effective solution designed to significantly reduce cost per tonne. Cat says the owning and operating costs for the 336E hybrid excavator are actually lower than the standard machine. That’s the value customers expect from Cat excavators,” says Overhill.
The hydraulic system features three technologies working together to achieve significant fuel savings:
Fuel consumption is conserved by an engine power management system via the Cat electronic standardised programmable (ESP) pump, which smoothly transitions between the hydraulic hybrid power sources, engine and accumulator.
Energy is stored and reused via the hydraulic hybrid swing system which captures the excavator’s upper structure swing brake energy in accumulators, and then releases that energy during swing acceleration.
Machine performance is optimised by the Cat adaptive control system (ACS) which manages and controls machine motion which translates to operators having the power and precision when they need and expect it.
The 336E hybrid excavator is powered by the proven Cat C9.3 ACERT™ Tier 4i engine, with the important new addition of a control system that manages pump and engine speed at a constant 1500rpm. The lower operating rev rate not only reduces fuel burn, it also reduces noise levels both inside and outside the cab.
“The service life of the 336E hybrid components is the same as for the 336E. The hybrid is fully supported on the ground by Goughs heavy diesel technicians across its nationwide dealer network. Standard hydraulic components are used, so no special equipment or re-training is required for our staff to service the machine,” Overhill says.
The 336E hybrid excavator features three power modes to help manage fuel consumption: high power, standard power, and economy.
Two additional fuel-saving features are on-demand engine power and engine idle shutdown. On-demand engine power keeps speed low during light loading and idling and automatically adjusts speed up when it senses a heavier load. Engine idle shutdown automatically shuts the engine off when idling for more than a specified amount of time, set by the operator, which can save significant amounts of fuel and reduce emissions.
The hybrid is built to deliver increased efficiency for businesses. “Assuming today’s fuel prices and a demanding application for the new hybrid, Caterpillar estimates customers can realistically expect to see a return on their investment in as little as one year,” says Overhill.
“The first hybrid machine has already landed in New Zealand and has been put to work. Goughs will be closely monitoring its performance over the coming months and we look forward to reporting the first-hand experiences of users in the New Zealand environment.”
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