The fuel-saving electric dozer from will now set the benchmark for other sites across the group after being put to work at Veolia’s Rainham landfill site in Essex.
Vinod Mehroke, Veolia Environmental Services’ general manager, London Landfill said: “In all areas of business we strive to be leading in green technology and so the new D7E dozer is a great addition at the Rainham Integrated Waste Management Facility.
“With an already strong track record in green vehicle investment, we are very proud to be the pioneers in fleet efficiency by bringing this new dozer into service in the European market.”
Its efficient engine consumes 10-30% less fuel per hour than other equivalent dozers, saving thousands of pounds each year.
An innovative electric drive system cuts noise levels inside and out the machine.
Finning strategic account manager, Jonathan Davies said, “The new Cat D7E is a truly game changing machine. Having proved itself across the world, this is the first but certainly not the last time we will see this machine in operation in the UK.
“Early reports show that there is already a significant drop in their fuel usage. Operators are also extremely happy with the machine, praising the greater control and manoeuvrability, which leads to less operator fatigue.”
In addition to fuel savings and lower carbon emissions, the Cat D7E will be maintained by Finning with the machine having the capability to have a second and third life. With extended service intervals and quieter operation, the Cat D7E offers an overall reduction in total owning and operating costs.
About the Cat D7E
The Cat D7E is the most advanced track-type tractor drive system. The electric drive system has a Cat C9.3 engine, but instead of powering a mechanical transmission, it drives a generator turning mechanical engine power into AC electricity.
The electric current flows through heavy-duty power cables and connectors into a power inverter.
Some of the current is converted to DC to power the various machine systems, the rest of the AC current is routed to the drive motors.
All of these electric drive components are sealed against the environment and liquid cooled, so the whole system performs efficiently and reliably in the most demanding dozer applications.
The D7E is also built to help owners reduce the amount of all the resources that they use over the life of their machines, including fluids, replacement parts and raw materials, which is why they are built to be rebuilt for a second life.
The D7E produces noise levels 50% lower than previous models, largely because its electric drive train reduces the need for the engine to rev at high levels. That can help contractors comply with local noise restrictions.
The machine is quieter on the inside, as well. Interior cab noise levels during operation are a low 73 decibels.