Cat’s D6 XE Under the Spotlight

Incredibly we first caught sight of Caterpillar’s new D6 XE as far back as 2018. The high drive model has since replaced the D7E which was Cat’s first electric drive dozer offering which was launched some nine years previously.

We got to see the machine “in the metal” during a press event in Malaga back in 2019 and I even got to spend some time in the seat.

According to the product specialist on the day, the D6 XE offers up to 35% better fuel efficiency, whilst offering vastly improved agility across the ground. With no gears to shift, the machine offers constant power to the ground, this continuous pushing power and greater manoeuvrability, equates to much faster cycle times.

But how does it all work I asked, well put in laymen’s terms, the electric drive system starts with a 161kw (215hp) Cat C9.3B engine. But instead of powering a torque converter, the engine drives a generator which turns the mechanical engine power into electricity.

And instead of a transmission, an electric motor powers the final drives. A power inverter is connected to both the generator and the motor by heavy-duty power cables and connectors, and this inverter controls the flow of electricity between the two components.

According to Caterpillar, the electric motor can operate at all ground speeds, ensuring the dozer is always operating at the most efficient point possible.

The electric drive components are fully sealed against the environment and liquid cooled, so the whole system performs efficiently and reliably in the most demanding dozer applications. Like a traditional powershift transmission in a high drive dozer, the D6 XE Electric Drive power train is completely modular, so internal components can be accessed quickly and efficiently.

The D6 XE was also one of the star attractions on the demo plot during Conexpo 2020.

Now, I’m no dozer operator by any stretch of the imagination, but I have to say I was mightily impressed with how this machine performed in the clay soil on the Malaga demonstration plot, to say it was effortless would be an understatement and a true quality piece of equipment as we have come to expect from Caterpillar over the years.

We already know that some units are operating in the UK now and it will be interesting to see how the electric drive models progress over the coming years.

Checkout this promotional video from Cat on how the technology within the machines can improve performance and efficiency.