Development of a hybrid large wheel loader

The development of construction machines saving energy is required from the aspect of the prevention of global warming. TCM has been endeavoring to reduce fuel consumption by hydraulic equipment and engines for large wheel loaders, but could not achieve any significant reduction. TCM started the development of a large wheel loader with a bucket of 11m³ that incorporates an electric drive system, and in 1997 TCM succeeded in marketing a large wheel loader, the L110, which consumes significantly less fuel.

Then TCM started developing a hybrid large wheel loader incorporating an energy regeneration function using the L110 as a base in order to reduce fuel consumption further, and succeeded in launching a hybrid large wheel loader L130 with a bucket of 13m³ in November 2008.

This wheel loader incorporates an electrical drive system, which was developed by making the most of Hitachi Group's motor inverter technology, and a capacitor that is charged with electricity generated while reducing speed for use when starting and accelerating. These features increase fuel efficiency by 30% comparing to a wheel loader with a torque converter, according to calculations. TCM will continue to develop construction machines that run on less fuel to contribute to the prevention of global warming.

Additionally, the L130 causes less vibration and noise because the maximum engine speed is lower.

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