CASE Construction Equipment has expanded its electric vehicle (EV) options for municipal crews, utility teams, urban construction, and other contractors with the commercial release of its 580EV, the industry’s first electric backhoe loader.

CASE’s EV backhoe loader will soon be followed by the commercial availability of two additional electric machines — the CX25EV mini excavator and the CL36EV compact wheel loader. The new equipment increases CASE’s EV lineup to five models, including the previously launched CX15EV electric mini excavator and the SL22EV small articulated loader.

The electric machines offer crews zero-emission, low-noise solutions for a range of unique job site demands — from overnight construction to work in urban centers or other close-quarter environments where noise and emissions must be kept to a minimum. The expanded CASE EV offering matches the performance and power of its diesel counterpart while offering lower fuel costs and less maintenance.

“With the 580EV electric backhoe loader, we took an industry staple and designed it as a purpose-built EV to help crews meet increasingly unique job site demands and win more contracts on projects that prioritize sustainability criteria,” said Terry Dolan, Vice President, North America, CASE Construction Equipment.

The new 580EV electric backhoe loader offers the same dimensional loading and digging specifications and delivers the same breakout forces as the four-wheel-drive, 97-horsepower CASE 580SN diesel model — marking an upgrade in performance since CASE first debuted its Project Zeus electric backhoe concept at CONEXPO in 2020.

With this new production unit, CASE said they took customer feedback and optimized everything from thermal management to operator controls. The 580EV also includes new features like an 8-inch color display; air conditioning; a front-dash display; and adjustable, four-corner, multicolored LED strobe lights.

Powered by a 400-volt, 71-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery platform that is charged with the same type of Level 2 J1772 adapter found in automotive EVs, CASE said the new electric backhoe loader is designed to deliver up to eight hours of operational run time on a single charge, depending on the application.

The battery platform also uses an advanced thermal management system with system-specific cooling circuits to regulate temperatures and help maintain performance in hot or cold conditions.

“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,” said Brad Stemper, Product Management Lead, North America, for CASE. “We looked at every aspect of the machine and enhanced power consumption throughout to deliver exceptional EV performance that operators will see and feel when digging, loading, or moving dirt.”

The four-wheel-drive 580EV uses two independent electric motors for the PowerDrive transmission and hydraulic pumps feeding the loader, backhoe, and steering systems. The 14-foot backhoe also includes an Extendahoe to boost reach, while features like ProControl swing dampening, PowerLift/PowerBoost, and electrohydraulic controls improve precision and ease of use, according to CASE.

Electrification also provides instantaneous torque response and peak torque at any rpm, so operators don’t need to wait for an internal combustion engine to ramp up to meet load demands.

The cab features energy-efficient heating and air conditioning, customizable work mode/sensitivity settings, push-button start, and operator security codes. The multicolored, four-corner strobe lights help operators work safely and meet regulatory requirements, with adjustable colors, strobe patterns, and an “always on” feature for low-light conditions when strobes are not needed.

CASE will make the CX25EV and CL36EV commercially available in the coming months.

A bigger, more powerful version of CASE’s existing electric mini excavator, the 2.5-metric-ton CX25EV includes hydraulic flow settings and up to three auxiliary circuits that can be paired with a variety of quick couplers and attachments. It is also equipped with electrohydraulic controls and a short-radius design, making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

The 3.6-metric-ton CL36EV electric compact wheel loader delivers the same power and performance as comparably sized diesel-powered loaders, CASE said. It can be matched with a range of attachments and features a hinge-pin height of over 10 feet.

“These new machines set a new benchmark in electrification and sustainable construction, and they’re a testament to our customer-centered approach to practical innovation as we expand our product portfolio,” Dolan said. “Complementing our diesel lineup, electrification brings real-world solutions to unique job site demands, helping urban construction contractors, utility teams, municipal crews, and other contractors further improve productivity, efficiency, and their bottom line.”

The CASE 580EV will be on display at the National Public Works Expo in September 2024.