Komatsu, hybrid, excavator--Hybrid concept proving a hit

Komatsu’s hybrid excavator, the Hybrid PC200-8, has already notched up successes in key markets in the world

 Previous, Stop, Play, Next, ZoomLaunched in 2008 in Japan as the world’s first hybrid earthmoving machine, the Hybrid PC200-8 is now being used in China and North America, and will land in Australia shortly.

Komatsu says the excavator significantly achieves reductions in both CO2 emissions and fuel consumption ,and has received high praise from customers in these regions.

Some Hybrid PC200’s have clocked up more than 10,000 hours, including sites requiring round-the-clock operation. Across the board, these sites have reportedly seen fuel cost reductions of more than 40%.

One successful customer in Japan has been Fuji Corporation, which operates a landfill and recycling facility for industrial waste in the middle of agricultural land near Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture.

"It didn’t take us long to decide to purchase the Hybrid PC200," said Tokichiro Yamaguchi, Fuji Corporation’s founder and chairman.

"It seems only natural for us to use environmentally friendly construction equipment, plus we also have an obligation to do so as a waste disposal company.

"Fuel costs have been drastically reduced following the introduction of the hybrid machine. But more importantly, it has enabled us to significantly lower our CO2 emissions," he said.

Following the successful introduction of the Hybrid in Japan and China, in late 2009, Komatsu began test marketing the Hybrid PC200LC-8 in North America.

One of the key objectives to test market in North America was to determine how well the machine would be accepted in a region where fuel cost is lower than in Japan or China.

States and cities with stricter emission regulations were chosen to test market the Hybrid, such as Illinois, Ohio, New York, Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Missouri, Wisconsin and California, as well as Quebec and British Columbia in Canada.

So far, the Komatsu Hybrid excavator and its energy storage capacitor system have been well received by customers and key industry groups.

Michael A. Allegretti, director of Government Relations, North America, with The Climate Group, said "I would like to commend Komatsu on the launch of this impressive machine. "By demonstrating true corporate leadership, Komatsu has shown what’s good for the bottom line can also be good for the planet."

The 20 tonne PC200-8 Hybrid is powered by Komatsu’s Hybrid System, based around a newly developed electric motor to turn the upperstructure, a power-generation motor, a capacitor and a low-speed diesel engine.

Compared with a standard PC200-8, Komatsu’s hybrid excavator typically achieves a 25% reduction in fuel consumption – but in certain applications, where the machine is primarily involved in digging and slewing operations (rather than travelling), fuel reductions of up to 40% have been recorded.

The main difference between conventional excavators and Komatsu’s new hybrid machine include:

An electric motor to turn the upperstructure, rather than a hydraulic motor, which also stores energy generated when the slewing action is braked
Capacitors which can instantaneously and efficiently collect, store and discharge electrical power from the regenerated energy,
When the engine is at idle, it is run at "super low" speeds, further contributing to lower fuel consumption.

Source: Deals on Wheels