Komatsu demonstrates hybrid excavator in Los Angeles
March 17, 2010Late in 2009, Komatsu America introduced the first of 10 Hybrid PC200LC-8 excavators into the U.S. market to test equipment that was designed to reduce environmental impact by saving fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
On March 11, representatives from Komatsu, along with representatives from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the contractor Griffith Co. and Savala Equipment Co. Inc. – which has been using a Hybrid PC200LC-8 – gathered for a demonstration of the hybrid excavator at the Port of Los Angeles.
The hybrid excavator is one of a number of other kinds of “green” machines that the Port of Los Angeles has introduced or tested, resulting in reduced diesel emissions that comply with a Clean Air Action Plan that was adopted in November 2006 by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
“We’re really in the process of seeing a complete transformation of this port as well as the trucking and construction industries,” noted Mary Nichols, chair of CARB. “We’re actually cleaning the air one piece of equipment at a time, and the machine being showcased today and others are going to help us meet our goals of energy efficiency and diversification of the fuel supply.”
Brea, Calif.-based contractor Griffith Co. has seen positive results with the Hybrid PC200LC-8. Dan McGrew, VP of business development for Griffith Co., said that they were skeptical at first, but the hybrid excavator “surpassed all expectations while using 30 percent less fuel.” McGrew noted that the hybrid excavator has a shorter cycle time than a conventional excavator.
Powered by the Komatsu hybrid system, the Hybrid PC200LC-8 uses a newly developed electric swing motor, power generator motor, capacitor and diesel engine. Komatsu developed its hybrid system to work on the principle of swing energy regeneration and energy storage using the Komatsu ultra capacitor system. Komatsu’s ultra capacitors provide fast energy storage and instantaneous power transmission.
In tests comparing the standard PC200LC-8 hydraulic excavator to the Hybrid PC200LC-8, the hybrid model reduced fuel consumption 25-40 percent, depending on the application, the company said.
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