Today you can see hundreds of cars on the streets all over Australia with a green leaf on their chassis, indicating that they are using the latest green and eco-friendly hybrid technology. But have you ever wonder when this revolutionary technology will be available for the construction machines and equipment? The answer to this question is now! Recently, Komatsu introduced its first hybrid excavator- the PC200LC-8 excavator.
Komatsu is the first manufacturer in the world that produced a full line of hybrid excavators. These Komatsu excavators are designed with the standard diesel engine that meets the gas regulations, and innovative hydraulic pumps that run on electricity. The new PC200LC-8 excavator works on the principle on energy storage and regeneration by using the Komatsu ultra capacitor that uses the stored power as power transmission. This principle is similar to the hybrid car technology. The hybrid cars use batteries that store power from the brakes when the vehicle slows on the road. The main difference in the hybrid Komatsu excavators is that the energy is stored in the ultra capacitor during the swing brake. The innovative ultra capacitor in the new Komatsu excavators works in harmony with the diesel engine, providing in this way pleasant experience for the operators. Every time when the upper structure of the Komatsu excavators is slowed down, extra energy is being created, stored and used in combination with the diesel engine. The end result that is provided by these innovative Komatsu excavators is greater fuel efficiency.
The new Komatsu excavators reduce the fuel consumption and the gas emissions by using innovative hybrid technology that captures and stores energy that has been previously wasted. This energy is transformed into electricity which can be used to power the entire machine. Unlike the traditional excavators which generally use a hydraulic motor in order to rotate the upper structure, the new hybrid Komatsu excavators are designed with electric swing motor that stores the energy that is otherwise wasted during the swing breaking. The energy that is captured is transferred to an inverter that changes it from AC to DC, and then it is stored in the ultra capacitor system. This energy can be used to assist the diesel engine and together to create more efficient hydraulic power.
In addition to the inverter, ultra capacitor and the swing motor, the hybrid Komatsu excavators also include built in generator motor placed between the engine and the hydraulic pumps. This build in generator motor creates effective energy transmission to the hydraulic pumps. The generator is specifically designed to charge the ultra capacitor system during certain periods when there is no work.
Like all other Komatsu excavators, this innovative PC200LC-8 comes with LED monitor that gives the operators vital information about the machine performance, including machine location, utilization, service intervals, maintenance needs, working hours etc. It also comes with the standard KOMTRAX remote monitoring system. This is a revolutionary machine that has been designed to minimize the fuel consumption and the negative impacts on the environment, while at the same time to deliver efficient and excellent results on the job site.
