Kobelco Construction Machinery Europe (KCME) says the SK210HLC-10 is a “revolutionary hybrid [excavator] that delivers the future today”.
The SK210HLC-10 is also said by KCME to be the first true hybrid specialist excavator in the 21tonne operating class. Drawing on over 80 years of Kobelco design, technical innovation and manufacture, the Japanese company has been at the forefront of hybrid technology since 1999, when work on hybrid excavators began.
With the new SK210HLC-10 and the introduction of its latest hybrid technology, combined with SCR (Selective catalyst Reduction) and DEF/AdBlue to reduce particulate matter, Kobelco says it has once again raised the bar in terms of efficiency, power and, ultimately, carbon footprint reduction in what it was of the most competitive and demanding excavator working-weight classes.
At the heart of the SK210HLC-10 are two major power supplies. Firstly, an efficient Stage 4 (Tier IV) Hino Motors turbocharged diesel engine producing 117kW (2000rpm), coupled to which is a new and larger Kobelco generator-motor. A claimed industry-first is the use of a large-capacity lithium-ion battery, said to provide exceptional “power-assist” via the new generator-motor.
Up to 25kW power assist – nearly five times that of a conventional model – results in significant reduction in engine load, which promotes superior fuel efficiency. The new lithium-ion battery also has greater retention of stored electricity; this in turn also provides greater control functionality to a new all-electric swing motor. This new swing motor also reduces engine load by not being directly linked to the hydraulic system and, therefore, to the engine. Another plus point is the regenerative function of the swing motor – when the swing motor decelerates it generates charge to the lithium-ion battery.
Superior fuel efficiency delivers greater working efficiency, while at the same time reducing carbon footprint. The SK210HLC-10 is also said to deliver class-leading work volume. For example, the model’s work in H-mode with an increased torque setting is said to deliver around 7% greater digging volume over a conventional-powered equivalent (SK210LC-9).
