Bobcat has unveiled the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, the S7X. Revealed on the first day of Conexpo 2023 in Las Vegas, United States, the prototype follows the presentation of the world’s first all-electric compact tracked loader, the Bobcat T7X, in 2022.
“At Bobcat, we’re always pushing the boundaries to explore the next leading advancements that help our customers accomplish more and propel the industry forward,” Doosan Bobcat CEO and vice chairman, Scott Park, said. “As an organisation, we’re committed to innovating for our customers’ needs first and foremost, so they can become more efficient, more productive and more successful.”
Like the T7X, the S7X is all-electric. It’s powered by a 60.5kWh lithium-ion battery, features electric drive motors and utilises ball screw actuators for lift and tilt functions.
Together, the battery and electrical powertrain are said to generate impressive performance characteristics, with instantaneous torque that’s as much as three times greater than traditional loaders. The powerful loader balances sustainability and performance with zero emissions and is equipped to outperform its diesel-powered equivalent.
This skid-steer loader offers operators a smooth and comfortable experience with minimal vibration and nearly silent operation.
The S7X can operate for up to eight hours on a single charge depending on the application, giving most operators more than a full day’s work when breaks and downtime are considered. A full charge takes approximately 10 hours.
“As the inventor of the original skid-steer loader, we’re excited to take the machine that created the industry and reinvent it all over again,” Doosan Bobcat vice president of global innovation, Joel Honeyman, said. “The S7X is an incredible product with real-world applications that can support operators on environmentally sensitive sites, in noise-restricted areas and for indoor operation.”
