At Bauma 2022, Peter Haddock was surprised to see a brand new Caterpillar electric compact wheel loader prototype, so caught up with product expert Elie Abi-karam to find out all about it. Having supported the launch of the next generation range in early 2022, which includes the 906, 907, 908 & 908 high lift models, Elie explained the key features of the new electric powered model. Elie: “The 906 electric is exactly the same machine, with the same cab, loader, hydraulics and software as the diesel equivalent. But now, in the future, customers will have a choice of either diesel or our prototype electric. "And we have designed the machine to operate exactly the same, so someone who drives a diesel machine will have the same performance from the powertrain, hydraulic drive and loader. “The difference will be the fuel and charging. To support the new range, we have developed a 300V system with a 64kWh battery, that is perfectly sized for a full day of work with 6 hours of run time. There are also charging systems making use of single and three phase supplies, and in the future, there will be DC charging on the machine.” And Caterpillar used Bauma to launch a whole new end to end battery solution, meaning the new machine benefits from a complete Caterpillar electric and mechanical DNA. Peter is looking forward to seeing this in action in the future, as it will be built in the UK at the Caterpillar Desford facility. Here are some key facts about the new diesel powered range, which includes the 906, 907, 908 & 908 high lift. The range soon to add electric power when the prototype goes into production, features: - Greater visibility with a new cab design and curved glass windscreen. - Greater comfort and options in the sealed cab, which can even have a heated or cooled premium seat to go with its car style air-conditioning. - Greater control with joysticks mounted on the seat and an in-cab screen with programmable kickouts to protect operators from unwanted shock and vibration due to bucket ground strikes. - Greater productivity and sustainability with reduced cycle and maintenance times, delivering more for every drop. - Greater worksite opportunities through specialist lighting kits. Altogether this is a great new product which has just added a spark to the electric journey to meet the demands of customers throughout the World, thanks to a new approach to configurability.