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CASE delivers electric backhoe loaders to utilities in New York

Two CASE 580 EV backhoes from CASE Construction Equipment have been delivered and are currently working with utilities in New York.

New York State Gas & Electric (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E), will debut their first electric backhoe at a special event in New York, and National Grid took delivery of its first electric backhoe earlier this year. The backhoes require no diesel and produce zero emissions while providing the power and performance associated with diesel-powered equipment.

CASE announced the development of the electric backhoe in March of 2020, and has been working with each utility on refining the machines ahead of final delivery and field deployment. Electrification of the CASE 580 EV was performed in conjunction with New York companies Green Machine Equipment, Inc. and Moog Inc. Monroe Tractor in New York will work with each utility and the integration partners to support the equipment in the field.

NYSEG and RG&E President and CEO Carl Taylor said he believes that the deployment of electric construction equipment into the communities they serve is driven by sustainability and the desire to be responsible neighbours.

CASE 580 EV backhoe from CASE Construction Equipment. Photo: CASE

“At NYSEG and RG&E, the driving force behind all of our decisions is to put our customers first and care for the communities we serve,” says Taylor. “As an energy provider, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the environment and build a more sustainable future for our communities. The addition of this first-of-its-kind backhoe into our fleet will help us meet sustainability goals and benefit the communities we serve by providing a cleaner work environment in the form of emissions and noise reduction. It’s equipment like this that will drive our fleets, businesses and communities into the future.”

The 580 EV is powered by Green Machine’s proprietary 480-volt, 90-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion WhisperDrive battery pack that can be charged by any 220-volt connection. While applications vary, each charge can support common eight-hour workdays. The battery separately powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors, resulting in hydraulic breakout forces equal to diesel-powered machines and improved performance during simultaneous loader and drivetrain operation.

It is estimated that the 580 EV could save fleets as much as 90 per cent in annual vehicle service and maintenance costs when taking into account the reduction/elimination of diesel, engine oil, diesel exhaust fluid, regular preventive maintenance and long-term engine upkeep/maintenance (and the associated labour rates and time savings).