Komatsu Demonstrates “Green” Hybrid PC200LC-8 Excavator
March 16, 2010
Rolling Meadows, IL, March 16, 2010—Late in 2009, Komatsu America introduced the first
of ten Hybrid PC200LC-8 excavators into the U.S. market to test the
innovative equipment that was designed to reduce environmental impact by saving
fuel and reducing green house emissions. On March 11, 2010, representatives
from Komatsu, along with representatives from the California Air Resources
Board (CARB), the office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the contractor Griffith Company, and Savala
Equipment Company, Inc.—which has been using a Hybrid PC200LC-8—gathered for a
demonstration of the hybrid excavator at work at the Port of Los Angeles.
The Komatsu 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 the California Air
Resources Board. "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-based contractor Griffith Company has seen
positive results with the Hybrid PC200LC-8. Dan McGrew, VP of Business
Development for the Griffith Company said that they were skeptical at first,
but the hybrid excavator “surpassed all expectations while using 30% less
fuel.” McGrew noted that the hybrid excavator has a shorter cycle time than a
conventional excavator, and concluded, that Komatsu’s Hybrid PC200LC-8 is a
“fantastic machine.”
There are 700 of Komatsu's
hybrid excavators already in use at construction sites in China and Japan. "Komatsu's decision to
apply its engineering excellence to the largest construction machine segment
clearly signals our commitment to developing environment-friendly
equipment," said Dave Grzelak, chairman and CEO of Komatsu America Corp.
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 revolutionary 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 by approximately
25-40%, depending on the application.
Komatsu America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd. which is the world’s second largest manufacturer and supplier of construction, mining and compact construction equipment. Komatsu America also serves forklift and forestry markets. Through its distributor network, Komatsu offers a state-of-the-art parts and service program to support the equipment. Komatsu has proudly been providing high-quality reliable products for nearly a century. Visit the website at www.komatsuamerica.com for more information.
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