Bobcat is planning to test its new T7X, the world’s first all-electric compact tracked loader, in its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market and gather feedback on the loader from customers in the region to identify the commercial potential of the award-winning machine.

The compact equipment specialist unveiled the all-electric Bobcat T7X compact track loader at CES 2022, the world's most influential technology event, held this month in Las Vegas in the USA. The T7X is the first machine of its kind to be fully electric, offering the full benefits of eliminating hydraulic systems, components, emissions and vibrations, while providing a cleaner, quieter machine.

The machine was honoured at the event with two 2022 CES Innovation Awards, which recognises recipients in a multitude of technology product categories and distinguishes the highest rated in each. The Bobcat T7X was declared winner in the Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation and Smart Cities categories.

Commenting on future plans for EMEA, Vijay Nerva, head of Innovation at Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “The T7X has been developed for the North American market for now but it addresses a global need and challenge. We plan to undergo internal testing and gather customer feedback in various countries in the EMEA region this year to better understand customer needs in this market before taking commercial decisions.”

The Bobcat T7X is fully battery-powered, built to be more productive from the ground up with electric actuation and propulsion, quieter with high-performance torque and more powerful than any diesel-fuelled track loader that has ever come before it – all while eliminating any carbon emissions, said Bobcat.

The company added that In the T7X, the traditional hydraulic work group has been completely replaced with an electrical drive system consisting of electric cylinders and electric drive motors, which means virtually no fluids. The new, all-electric Bobcat T7X uses just under one litre of eco-friendly coolant compared to around 216 litres of fluid in its diesel/hydraulic equivalent model. The all-electric platform enables instantaneous power and peak torque availability at every operating speed. The operator no longer needs to wait for the standard hydraulic system to build up power.

Bobcat said the T7X operates with zero emissions and reduced noise and vibration generated by the machine. It works quietly and efficiently in noise sensitive areas and indoors, which significantly lowers sound levels and improves the working environment. It can also significantly lower daily operating costs, when considering the reduction in annual maintenance costs and elimination of diesel, engine oil, diesel exhaust fluid and hydraulic parts.

The T7X is powered by a 62kW lithium-ion battery from technology partner, Green Machine Equipment, Inc. While applications vary, each charge can support common daily work operations and the use of intelligent work modes for up to four hours of continuous operation time and a full day of operation during intermittent use. The intelligence of the power management system is programmed to sense when loads are increasing, automatically backing off power when not needed to preserve the total energy use and extend the machine's runtime.

Bobcat said the T7X was initially developed for the North American market but internal testing and the gathering of customer feedback is planned for other markets such as the EMEA region to identify its potential.

Scott Park, president and CEO of Doosan Bobcat, said: "Doosan Bobcat is at the forefront of innovation, and we are proud to debut the all-electric technology of the T7X to help customers maximize both sustainability and productivity. Our focus remains on providing solutions and products that empower people to accomplish more and build a better world."

Joel Honeyman, vice president of Global Innovation at Doosan Bobcat, added: "This machine is a technological feat for Bobcat and for the entire industry," said "We challenged the status quo to deliver a connected, all-electric machine designed for power and performance that previously was not possible. We are excited to share this advancement with the world and proud of the hard work that has gone into making this a reality."

At CES in Las Vegas Bobcat also revealed that a leading rental equipment company in North America, South Carolina-based Sunbelt Rentals, had committed to a significant investment in a large fleet of the Bobcat T7X all-electric compact track loaders and electric compact excavators in North America, which will be co-branded and made available in 2022 and beyond.