Caterpillar's New Hybrid Excavator Offers Savings at a Small Price
At first glance, Caterpillar's new 336EH hybrid excavator could be mistaken for the non-hybrid 336E. It has the same profile as the existing machine, distinguished by only a small "hybrid" label near the rear. For operators sitting in the cab, the only sign they are running a hybrid excavator is a little green bar on the display console, which details fills and empties as the bucket swings during a work cycle.
As an operator runs it for a few work cycles, he will notice the engine rumbles at a slightly different pitch, with a bit less roar when swinging the boom back to the dig position. At the end of the day, Caterpillar expects users to notice that the excavator consumes much less diesel fuel.