Page 30 - EngineerIT June July Issue 2026
P. 30
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
New hydraulic system extends
electric excavator runtime by
more than 50%
By Justin Render
ne of the biggest challenges The company recently completed Unlike conventional hydraulic systems,
facing the electrification validation testing of its Dextreme Max the Dextreme Max architecture uses
Oof heavy construction digital hydraulic architecture in a independently controlled hydraulic
equipment is not the motor or the 30-tonne battery-electric excavator. outlets that can dynamically allocate
battery. It is energy efficiency. According to the results, the system flow to different machine functions. The
reduced overall power consumption system is also able to recover energy
Large excavators require significant by 35% across a representative duty from certain excavator movements,
power to perform demanding tasks cycle, extending operating time on a including boom lowering, which would
like digging, lifting, and grading. single charge by 53%. otherwise dissipate energy as heat.
While battery-electric machines
eliminate tailpipe emissions and The project was supported by To evaluate performance, engineers
reduce noise, operating time the UK Government's Red Diesel compared the modified excavator
between charges remains a key Replacement Phase 2 Competition, with a baseline battery-electric
consideration for contractors and which funds technologies aimed at machine using recognised construction
fleet operators. reducing emissions in construction, equipment test cycles. The greatest
mining and quarrying applications. improvement was recorded during
New test results from Danfoss Danfoss used the programme to grading operations, where energy
suggest that a different approach to integrate and test the hydraulic consumption fell by almost 50%.
hydraulic system design could help system in a converted electric Dig-and-dump testing delivered
address that challenge. excavator. energy savings of 31%.
30 | EngineerIT June/July 2026
