Komatsu Introduces the World's First Hydraulic Excavator: Hybrid Evolution Plan for Construction Equipment
13/05/2008

Komatsu Ltd. (President & CEO: Kunio Noji) announced today that the Company will launch sales of the PC200-8 Hybrid excavator, the world's first hybrid construction equipment. (*1) For now, it will be only available on the Japanese market, as of June 1 2008.

The PC200-8 Hybrid is powered by the Komatsu Hybrid System which uses a newly developed electric motor to turn the upper structure, a power generation motor, a capacitor and a diesel engine. This hybrid model uses about 25% less fuel than a standard PC200-8 hydraulic excavator,. (*2)

In May 2007, Komatsu launched the world's first hybrid electric forklift trucks on the market. We now introduce this new hybrid excavator as the flagship of our construction equipment.

As a leading construction equipment manufacturer, we are determined to meet the needs of the time by proposing practical and innovative equipment designed to reduce environmental impact - which includes cutting down on CO2 emissions.

1. Fuel Economy
Compared to the standard PC200-8, we achieved an average of 25% reduction in fuel consumption. (*3) Furthermore, in operation tests by customers, we have confirmed a maximum reduction of 41%, at a jobsite where the machine's upper structure turned more frequently.

* Notes
1. Based on our research on seven major products (crawler-type hydraulic excavator, wheel-type hydraulic excavator, wheel loader, bulldozer, rigid-type dump truck, articulated dump truck and motor grader as of May 13, 2008.
2. This figure varies depending on the nature of work.
3. Computed according to our internal-use standard concerning average ways of using construction equipment.

2. Outline of the Komatsu Hybrid System
Our proprietary Komatsu Hybrid System converts energy generated when the upper structure reduces its speed while turning, stores the energy in the capacitor, and uses it to assist the power of the engine via the power generation motor when the engine accelerates.

All components of the Komatsu Hybrid System are made in-house , ensuring high reliability and durability.(*4)

* Note 4. Excluding capacitor cells.

3. Major Characteristics of the PC200-8 Hybrid when Compared to Standard Construction Equipment and Hybrid Cars

1) Comparison with Standard Construction Equipment
While standard equipment normally uses a hydraulic motor to turn the upper structure, for this movement, Komatsu has recently developed an electric motor for the Hybrid. By using this electric motor to collect the energy generated when the upper structure slows down while turning, we have achieved a hybrid excavator.

While standard construction equipment uses only diesel engines for power, our new hybrid excavator utilizes regenerated energy to assist the engine when it accelerates, enabling the use of the engine in a low revolution zone with high-efficiency combustion. In addition, while the engine runs idle, our hybrid excavator keeps the revolution at a super low level, achieving impressive reductions in fuel consumption.

2) Comparison with Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars require a large amount of electric energy to start moving and to accelerate, and then they can run with a relatively stable engine revolution. By comparison, construction equipment has to accommodate dynamic and frequent fluctuations of the engine revolution, for example, for excavation work. To assist the engine in such fluctuations, the PC200-8 Hybrid is mounted with a capacitor.

Automotive batteries work on the principle of chemical reaction, thus it takes time for them to discharge electricity, providing insufficient support when applied to construction equipment. On the other hand, capacitors can instantaneously and efficiently collect, store and discharge electricity.

PC200-8 Hybrid Excavator

Energy motor enables the operator to see the flows of electric energy, when storing and regenerating.

Information in the press releases is current on the date of the announcement and is subject to change without notice.

Contact:
Kevin Broman
Komatsu Europe International N.V.
+32 2 255 24 58
kevin.broman@komatsu.eu

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