Attendees at CES 2024 are set to experience the “Power of Possible” at Caterpillar Inc.’s roughly 9,600 sq.ft (892 sq.m) exhibit on January 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This year’s display focuses on Caterpillar’s electric machines and energy solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers as they electrify their job sites, Caterpillar says, with the OEM continuing to innovate and invest in electrification, alternative fuels, connectivity and digital solutions as part of this focus.
Rod Shurman, Senior Vice President of Caterpillar’s Electrification + Energy Solutions division, said: “We are delighted to return to CES to showcase our advancements in energy solutions. This event is known as the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators which makes it the ideal place for us to showcase our leadership in power systems and integrated service solutions to help our customers in the energy transition. We’re putting our expertise to work on multiple advanced power technologies to enable the energy transition solutions that our customers need to be successful in a reduced-carbon world.”
The exhibit’s centrepiece, the Cat® R1700 XE LHD underground loader, offers a 15-t payload. The zero-exhaust emission loader includes the industry’s only on-board battery, eliminating the need to handle or exchange batteries, Caterpillar claims. It charges in less than 20 minutes when paired with two of the Cat MEC500 chargers, a standalone charging system designed to charge quickly and safely as needed.
Also on display is the company’s 301.9 mini excavator, the first machine with a Caterpillar battery.
Alongside this, the company is set to showcase lower-carbon intensity on-site power production solutions, such as generators running on a variety of renewable fuels, solar panels and hydrogen powered fuel cells, plus battery energy storage solutions, including the compact XEX60.
The on-board battery pack on display at CES is designed to power the 301.9 mini excavator with a total capacity of 32 kWh and a nominal voltage of 48 V. Cat battery packs consist of a modular design with factory integrated telematics and a rugged structure to endure the use on our heavy equipment, the company says.
Additionally displayed at CES will be a Cat 750 V electric motor and inverter, components that support a variety of machines and power systems. A 750 DC motor provides mechanical power for the machine movement when commanded by the operator. The inverter transfers power to the electric motor from an onboard Caterpillar machine power source like a generator or battery.
Lastly, Cat digital solutions will feature at CES, showcasing the ability to monitor Caterpillar equipment and power solutions for the provision of advanced analytics, transforming data into customer insights making it easier for customers to own and operate their equipment, the company said.