CASE Construction Equipment has received the prestigious Good Design Award for its methane-powered wheel loader concept
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The methane-powered wheel loader was first unveiled in April 2019 at BAUMA, the world’s largest construction trade fair in Munich
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CASE Construction Equipment, a brand of CNH Industrial NV, received the award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The methane-powered wheel loader, first unveiled in April 2019 at BAUMA, the world’s largest construction trade fair in Munich, Germany was chosen for its vision of the future of construction as a sustainable, connected and technologically advanced industry.
The CASE concept uses an FPT Industrial methane engine which has been specifically developed for construction applications and delivers maximum power of 230hp (172kW) – identical to the equivalent diesel power plant. This is achieved with a 50 per cent reduction in drive-by noise levels, which makes it ideal for municipal applications and when working in close proximity to offices, residential areas and people.
The engine features stoichiometric combustion technology, developed by FPT Industrial, and first introduced in 1995; it is applied across the entire natural gas engine portfolio as it enables comparative performance to diesel engines, while delivering ultra-low emissions and high efficiency.
Biomethane is produced using a cyclical system that delivers CO2 neutral production. It particularly suits wheel loader applications, especially those employed in waste handling situations or on farms, as they handle the raw materials which are used to produce the biomethane which fuels them. This enables these businesses not only to be fuel sufficient, but also energy sufficient, as biomethane can also be burned to generate electricity to power buildings as well as to satisfy any heating requirements.
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The CASE concept uses an FPT Industrial methane engine which has been specifically developed for construction applications
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For operations that do not have the resources to produce their own biomethane, the methane-powered wheel loader concept can be powered by ‘conventional’ network natural gas. This is of particular interest to waste handling facilities and to urban and suburban operations, which have ready access to the natural gas grid.
The CASE wheel loader concept, jointly developed by the CASE engineering and CNH Industrial international design teams, reimagines wheel loader design. It demonstrates the viability of alternative fuels in construction equipment and the feasibility of using fuel generated from waste products and renewable sources.
It is powered by a proven methane engine, produced by sister brand FPT Industrial, that delivers the same performance as its diesel equivalent. The innovative design includes cutting-edge styling and an advanced operator environment that makes extensive use of touchscreen and voice control technologies.
The concept also offers innovative safety features that use biometric technologies and an obstacle detection system derived from CNH Industrial’s autonomous vehicle research and development programme.
The CASE methane-powered wheel loader concept has been tested in real-world construction environments, demonstrating its feasibility and proving its business case in terms of sustainability, reduced overall Total Cost of Ownership and operational viability.
CNH Industrial’s brands have a long history in developing and commercializing natural gas-powered vehicles, and they are the market leaders in this area. Since pioneering natural gas technology some 20 years ago, FPT Industrial, the powertrain brand of CNH Industrial, has produced more than 40,000 natural gas engines, running on both compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).