Case Launches ‘Industry First’ Electric Backhoe Loader

September 23, 2024

Ryan Gehm

Case Construction Equipment launched its first electric vehicle (EV) products last year – the CX15EV mini excavator and the SL22EV small articulated loader – and the company has more in store for 2024, starting with the commercial release of the industry’s first purpose-built electric backhoe loader. After years of design and development, the new 580EV carries over the same dimensional loading and digging specifications and delivers the same breakout forces as the four-wheel-drive, 97-hp (72-kW) 580SN diesel model.

Case first debuted its Project Zeus electric backhoe concept at CONEXPO in 2020, but the production 580EV is a vastly different machine than what was on display in Las Vegas.

“We updated the look and upped the performance class from the 580N EP model that we used for Zeus to match our more popular and more powerful 580SN model,” Brad Stemper, North American product management lead at Case, said in August at the virtual launch event for the 580EV. “But instead of just simply retrofitting a diesel-powered machine, we considered everything that might impact energy efficiency. Throughout the validation process, we continued to refine systems across the unit to optimize efficiency without sacrificing anything for lift, anything for digging and any driving performance.”

Customer feedback informed decisions to optimize various aspects of the new production EV, according to Stemper, including matching the power and performance of its diesel counterpart as well as enhancing thermal management and operator controls. The 580EV includes features such as pushbutton start, an 8-inch color touchscreen display, more efficient heating and air-conditioning, and adjustable four-corner, multicolored LED strobe lights that include an “always-on” feature for low-light conditions.

“Electrification also comes with some performance opportunities that internal combustion engines simply cannot match, such as instantaneous torque response and peak torque at any rpm. That means no waiting for a diesel engine to ramp up to meet load demands and essentially no wasted energy when the machine is not at work,” Stemper said. “Designing this machine from day one as a purpose-built EV instead of a retrofit has enabled a slew of practical innovations that will positively change the mindset for teams considering EV equipment.”

The 580EV backhoe loader is available through Case’s dealer network across North America. The company says two additional EV machines will be commercially available soon – the CX25EV 2.5-metric-ton mini excavator and the CL36EV 3.6-metric-ton compact wheel loader. The new equipment will increase Case’s EV lineup to five models.

“There are jobs today that are still better suited for diesel, but there are a growing number of projects where electric-power machines are the best tool for the job,” Terry Dolan, vice president, North America, Case Construction Equipment, said during the 580EV virtual event. Beyond jobsites in urban centers with strict noise and emission mandates, nighttime projects, or work that requires indoor operation, EVs also “could open doors to winning contracts on projects that prioritize green credentials,” he said. “For example, the number of LEED-certified projects between 2017 and 2022 grew at an average rate of 20% every year.”

Runtime range

Powered by a 400-volt, 71-kWh lithium-ion battery platform that can be charged with Level 2 J1772 adapters, the new electric backhoe loader is designed to deliver up to eight hours of operational runtime on a single charge. “When looking at runtime, we say four to eight hours of true operation depending on the application,” Stemper said. “That’s a pretty big range because a useful machine like a backhoe loader can do a lot of different tasks with a lot of different energy demands.”

Customer testing provided insights on how much battery charge was used in specific types of operations. “For example, running the backhoe is a more efficient use of energy on the machine. If you’re digging with stabilizers down most of the day, you’ll see runtimes that are closer to that eight-hour range,” Stemper explained. “Running the ground drive consumes more energy though. If an operator is using the transmission heavily for roading or moving material with the front loader, they’re more likely to see shorter runtimes.”

The battery platform also uses an advanced, multi-circuit thermal management system. “We looked closely at thermal management on these machines by using separate cooling circuits for different systems to better regulate temperatures for various climate conditions,” Stemper said.

The 580EV utilizes a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery supplied by FPT Industrial. A fully depleted battery can be charged to 100% overnight in about seven and a half hours. Charging from 20% to 80% will take around four and a half hours.

EH controls an ‘obvious’ update

The four-wheel-drive 580EV uses two independent electric motors to minimize energy consumption and improve performance in loading applications. A traction motor is connected through the PowerDrive transmission to the drivetrain, and an implement motor connects to the hydraulic pumps that feed the loader, backhoe and steering systems.

“In loading applications, the loader hydraulics are controlled separately from the ground drive, maintaining the operator’s ability to load materials from a pile without declutching and maintaining fast cycle times,” Stemper said.

The 14-ft (4.27-m) backhoe includes an Extendahoe to provide extra reach, minimizing the need to reposition the machine. The maximum digging depth when extended is 17 ft 11 in. (5.47 m). Overall reach from the rear axle centerline is 25 ft 3 in. (7.69 m) when extended.

Other features include ProControl swing dampening, PowerLift/PowerBoost and new electrohydraulic (EH) controls to increase control precision. The loader uses a three-spool EH control valve and the backhoe an eight-spool EH unit. Flow is up to 30 gpm (113 L/min) for both loader and backhoe. The backhoe-bucket digging force with PowerLift is 14,452 lb (64,285 N). The loader-bucket breakout force is 10,946 lb (48,690 N).

“We were heavily engaged with those customers [in the Northeast] for a few years, hearing firsthand from the operators themselves on what they thought about the units,” said George MacIntyre, product manager for backhoe and tractor loaders. “That gave us a lot of insights into what we were going to do. One was obvious – the electrohydraulic controls, which tie in perfectly with the battery-powered machine versus the pilot-controlled unit on the 580SN.”

Advanced telematics with two-way communication and remote diagnostics allows fleet managers to stay informed on how the machine is operating. A built-in EV care maintenance program comes standard with a three-year, 3,000-hour preventative care package and a three-year, 3,000-hour warranty on the high-voltage electrical system, which includes the batteries, motors and battery management system.

Dolan said a common question from customers centers on EV pricing compared to diesel-powered machines. “Yes, the battery-powered electric machines may cost more upfront,” he said, “but they can bridge the gap by lowering costs for maintenance and fuel.”

The 580EV electric backhoe loader has been approved for the California CORE (Clean Off-Road Equipment) voucher incentive program, which encourages users in the state to purchase or lease currently commercialized zero-emission off-road equipment. “So, we’re excited about that,” Dolan said.

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