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Bobcat unveils new RogueX autonomous concept machine and ‘world’s first’ all-electric skid-steer loader

Bobcat has unveiled what it says is the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, the Bobcat S7X, in addition to a new concept track loader, the all-electric and autonomous RogueX.
CONEXPOCON/AGG 2023 / March 16, 2023
The all-electric and autonomous RogueX concept
The all-electric and autonomous RogueX concept

The launch of the S7X follows the 2022 release of the Bobcat T7X all-electric compact track loader. Bobcat says it plans to commercialise the prototype S7X.

The next-generation RogueX is purely a concept machine, with no plans currently for commercialising it. The machine is designed to explore the capabilities of electric power, autonomous operation and dual lift-arm geometry.

Doosan Bobcat North America president Mike Balweber said of the new machines: “We have launched more models in the last five years than in the previous 50 years of the company’s existence.”

Like the T7X, the S7X is all-electric, and is powered by a 60.5kWh, lithium-ion battery. It features electric drive motors and utilises ball screw actuators for lift and tilt functions.

Bobcat says that, together, the battery and electrical powertrain generate incredible performance characteristics, with instantaneous torque that is as much as three times greater than traditional loaders. The powerful loader is designed to balance sustainability and performance with zero emissions and is equipped to outperform its diesel-powered equivalent.

The S7X skid-steer loader is designed to offer operators a smooth and comfortable experience with minimal vibration and nearly silent operation. The S7X can operate for up to 8 hours on a single charge depending on the application, giving most operators more than a full day’s work when breaks and downtime are considered. A full charge takes approximately 10 hours.

“As the inventor of the original skid-steer loader, we are excited to take the machine that created the industry and reinvent it all over again,” said Joel Honeyman, Doosan Bobcat VP of global innovation.

“The S7X is an incredible product with real-world application that can support operators on environmentally sensitive sites, in noise-restricted areas and for indoor operation.”

While most closely resembling a track loader, the RogueX machine was built as a research and development project, and as a proving ground to advance the Bobcat innovation roadmap, evaluate customer perceptions and test the limits of machine functionality.

“RogueX was concepted with consideration for the worksite of the future and how a customer’s needs may evolve — with a focus on ease of use, remote operations, autonomous functionality, sustainable operations and features that allow operators to accomplish more with one machine,” said Honeyman.

As jobsites change and operators turn to remote operation, Bobcat took its concept further by fully eliminating an operator station. The machine is designed to explore the idea of operating where humans cannot go, to tackle more work in more places than ever from a remote position.

By building the loader without a cab and using advanced kinematics, RogueX features next-generation functionality including both vertical-path and radial-path lift capabilities in one machine. The machine produces zero emissions as it features a lithium-ion battery, electric drive system and no hydraulics. “After our successful development of building an all-electric loader [the Bobcat T7X], we wanted to think bigger, broader and take a leap far into the future,” said Matt Sagaser, director of innovation accelerated at Bobcat.

“RogueX sets a framework for what is possible, and our team is just getting started on what is next.” RogueX is in the early research and development stage at Bobcat.

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