CASE Construction Equipment has expanded its EV toolbox for municipal crews, utility teams, urban construction and other contractors with the commercial release of its 580EV electric backhoe loader. The next generation of EV equipment from CASE offers crews zero-emissions, low-noise solutions for a range of jobsite demands — from overnight construction, to work in urban centers or other close-quarter environments where noise and emissions must be kept to a minimum.
“CASE EV offerings are all about unlocking more opportunities for our customers, and we work harder than anyone to give them every tool in the toolbox to succeed on the jobsite,” said Terry Dolan, vice president, North America, CASE Construction Equipment. “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 jobsite demands and win more contracts on projects that prioritize sustainability criteria.”
Battery Performance
The new CASE 580EV electric backhoe loader carries over the same dimensional loading and digging specifications and delivers the same breakout forces as the four-wheel-drive, 97-hp 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 took customer feedback and made several updates from thermal management to operator controls to electrify a machine with comparable specs to the 580SN. CASE also included new features, like an 8-in. color display, air conditioning, a front-dash display and adjustable four-corner, multicolored LED strobe lights.
Powered by a 400-volt, 71-kwh lithium-ion battery platform that’s charged with the same type of Level 2 J1772 adapter found in automotive EVs, the new electric backhoe loader is designed to deliver up to eight hours of operational runtime on a single charge, depending on the application. The battery platform also uses a 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, 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.”
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Operation
The four-wheel-drive 580EV uses two independent electric motors for the PowerDrive transmission and hydraulic pumps feeding the loader, backhoe and steering systems for performance in loading applications. The 14-ft. backhoe also includes an Extendahoe to boost reach, while features like ProControl swing dampening, PowerLift/PowerBoost and electrohydraulic controls support use on the jobsite. Electrification also provides performance features like 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.
In the cab, CASE takes the same approach as on other machines, with features like heating and air conditioning, an 8-in. touchscreen display, customizable work mode/sensitivity settings, push-button start and operator security codes. Multicolored, four-corner strobe lights also let 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.
