Bobcat, the leading manufacturer of construction equipment, has unveiled the prototype version of its first all-electric skid steer loader, the Bobcat S7X, at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2023. The machine uses electric-drive motors and ball screw actuators for lift and tilt functions and is powered by a 60.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. The battery is able to generate instant torque hat is 3 times more than the average loaders.
Bobcat’s Strategy and Decision-Making Process
Bobcat’s all-electric compact track loader, the T7X, made its debut at CES 2022, where it received the CES Innovation Awards in the Vehicle Intelligence and Transportation and Smart Cities categories. The company decided to develop an all-electric compact track loader first due to its greater overall market share, despite its history of inventing the skid-steer loader. Joel Honeyman, vice president of global innovation at Doosan Bobcat, said that they wanted to put all the technology on the hardest machine first, so it will be easier when they develop something else.
Advantages of the All Electric Skid Steer Loader
The S7X is eco-friendly and only consumes energy when it’s at work. The battery takes approximately 10 hours to fully charge and it can run for 8 depending on what task you are performing. Additionally, the machine’s efficiency is boosted by turning only four tires instead of moving tracks on a CTL, and there is no idle time that would increase the runtime of the machine.
Collaborations and Timeline
To develop the S7X, Bobcat collaborated with Moog Inc., a developer of motion control components and systems. Their was also a collaboration with Viridi, a developer of lithium-ion battery systems for industrial applications. While the S7X was presented as a prototype at the show, it is expected to move toward full production in the near future, although no timeline has been disclosed.