National Grid : Testing Fleet Equipment of the Future

WALTHAM, MA - Typically, construction sites are noisy places with heavy, diesel-fueled equipment digging, moving and lifting materials. National Grid is taking steps to make the construction site a little quieter, and 'greener,' by being one of the first utilities to incorporate a fully electric-powered backhoe into its fleets.

Earlier in the year, National Grid partnered with CASE and Green Machine to test a fully-electric backhoe in New York to help deliver on our ambitious clean energy goals, while performing equivalently to other diesel-powered equipment. Now, we are bringing that same technology to Massachusetts to support our communities in New England.

'One of the great things about this backhoe is the noise reduction on the work site. Having less noise from machinery allows for a less disruptive experience for the community around the site, as well as improved communication between supervisors and crew members while a job is in progress,' said Fred Amaral, Vice President, New England Gas Field Operations, National Grid. 'I've also been impressed with the performance of the backhoe compared to our traditional equipment used in the field.'

Using battery-operated equipment helps National Grid reach its companywide emissions target, and further supports the company's initiatives to increase the number of electric vehicles across its service area.

'Reducing carbon emissions and electrifying our vehicle fleet are among the many clean energy initiatives National Grid is implementing across our business. Incorporating an electric backhoe into our construction fleet not only supports our values and corporate goals, but also demonstrates our commitment to innovation in the clean energy space,' said Terence Sobolewski, Interim New England President, National Grid. 'We are excited to be working with CASE, Green Machine, and so many other innovative partners to continue our quest toward a clean energy future.'

By purchasing and testing battery-powered construction equipment, National Grid is leading the way for other energy companies as well as businesses in the construction industry by demonstrating and realizing benefits to the environment, customers, communities and employees.

CASE's traditional 580 N EP diesel-powered backhoe loader was used as the foundation for the project. The company worked with National Grid to electrify the product in conjunction with Green Machine, a Buffalo-based company known for a variety of battery-powered products including EV mini excavators, which National Grid has been using since 2012 and Moog, an international designer and manufacturer of advance motion control products.

'We commend National Grid for its forward-thinking commitment to a cleaner, greener community,' said Jon M. Williams, Chairman/CEO of Viridi Parente, the parent company of Green Machine. 'We're proud to have our state-of-the-art battery technology powering the Case 580 EV allowing it to be among National Grid's vital fleet of construction equipment. We look forward to building on our longstanding relationship with National Grid as it moves closer to its environmentally responsible goal of zero emissions.'

The CASE 580 EV is powered by Green Machine's 480-volt, 90-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery system that can be charged by any 220-volt connection. While applications vary, a full charge can support common eight-hour workdays. The battery separately powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors, resulting in hydraulic breakout forces equal to diesel-powered machines and improved performance during simultaneous loader and drivetrain operation.

'We're proving the power and effectiveness of electrification at the larger end of the light equipment spectrum,' said Brad Stemper, North American compact equipment product lead at CASE. 'This is just the start - and it's organizations like National Grid taking this step in committing to sustainability in all matters of its business, from reducing waste to fleet management and community improvement, that will drive the success and adoption of electric construction equipment.'