Hitachi’s new hybrid hydraulic excavator combines proven technology with future innovations

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The new Hitachi hybrid hydraulic excavator has been unveiled for the first time in Europe this month. The ZH210-6 was presented by the official Hitachi dealer in Belgium, Luyckx, at the Matexpo biennial international trade fair held 11-15 September.

The new hybrid model has the lowest ever fuel consumption for a Hitachi medium hydraulic excavator, and has also been designed to further reduce CO2 emissions and running costs. Incorporating proven technology, an advanced hydraulic system and a new lightweight arm, it achieves this without compromising on high levels of performance and easy operation for which Hitachi is renowned in the construction industry.

New power source
Compared with the previous ZH-5 hybrid model, it uses 12% less fuel (in both PWR and ECO mode), and compared with the standard ZX210-6, it offers a 20% fuel saving. The new power unit of the ZH210-6, which integrates the 73kW diesel engine (smaller than the ZH210-5) and electric power assist motor (44kW), has a significant impact on fuel consumption.

The diesel engine output alone is sufficient for ordinary operation, and when maximum power is required for heavy workloads, the electric power assist motor can also be used. This makes the new hybrid model more efficient than the ZH210-5 and the standard ZX210-6.

New storage device
The new integrated power unit led to the adoption of a new electrical storage device for the ZH210-6. Instead of the capacitor of the ZH210-5, the new model is equipped with a large-capacity lithium-ion battery developed by Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. This has significantly increased continuous output to the electric power assist motor, which means it is able to support the engine power considerably and for a greater length of time. During light operation, the electric power assist motor acts as a generator and charges the lithium-ion battery unit, similar to the way it works in a hybrid car.
The ZH210-6 also has a new power control unit that uses proven automotive technology. This further enhances the reliability of the new hybrid hydraulic excavator.

Improved hydraulics
A further update from the previous model is the hydraulic TRIAS-HX II system. This has been enhanced for the ZH210-6 to improve the efficiency of the hydraulic system and further reduce fuel consumption. The hydraulic electric swing has also been improved, with an electric motor torque maximum of 220Nm, compared with 160Nm on the ZH210-5.

Unlike the standard Zaxis-6 hydraulic excavators, the ZH210-6 does not use SCR (selective catalytic reduction) technology, which means fewer additional costs for owners, as AdBlue is not required. Instead the new model complies with Stage IV standards by incorporating an advanced diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and diesel particulate filter (DPF). This is particularly advantageous for operation in European cities with strict regulations on particulate matter emissions.

Lightweight and durable
The arm of the ZH210-6 hybrid hydraulic excavator is manufactured from high-tensile steel that is 15% lighter than the standard arm of both the ZH210-5 and ZX210-6. This means that less power is required to move the arm, contributing to a decrease in fuel consumption. Hitachi has conducted thorough tests to ensure that durability of the arm remains at the same high level despite the significant weight reduction.

Owners and operators in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and the UK are currently taking part in user tests for the new Hitachi hybrid hydraulic excavator, which will continue until early 2018. Burkhard Janssen, General Manager Product Management & Engineering at Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV, is looking forward to positive feedback from both the tests and visitors to Matexpo.

“The ZH210-6 has been developed using proven Hitachi technology combined with future innovations. It brings together technologies from the entire Hitachi group and features industry-leading components to achieve considerably less fuel consumption than previous models”, he says. “It is a perfect example of Hitachi’s ongoing commitment to reducing ownership costs for customers and its advanced technological approach to reducing the environmental impact of its equipment.”