Warm Springs Constructors is cashing in on the benefits of using Caterpillar’s new hybrid excavator, the Cat® 336E H, as the construction company lays track for a 16-mile extension of California’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley regional rail system.
“The previous machine was using 100 gallons (of fuel) a day and this new machine is using 70 gallons a day,” said Thomas Brown, heavy equipment operator. “That’s 30 percent (less fuel consumption). Look at that savings.” Not only is the 336E H sustainable, but it also lowers customers owning and operating costs. “That machine is going to make you money and it’s going to save you a lot of money in the long run,” said Brown.
As the industry’s first hydraulic hybrid excavator, the 336E H is designed to use recovered energy from the swing while doing the same amount of work with less fuel as its counterparts. And the hydraulic hybrid technology sacrifices nothing in terms of performance, power, speed or production. “The design is absolutely flawless,” said Brown. “It’s the smoothest machine I’ve ever ran.”
Troy Porter, who’s also operating the 336E H at the site, particularly likes the ergonomic interior of the cab. “It’s quiet inside. It’s comfortable,” he said. “You can work a lot longer shifts when you’re comfortable inside the cab.”
The 336E H is just one of almost 25 pieces of Cat machines being used on the three-year rail project. When completed in early 2015, the new track will offer a new transit option for commuters, connect residents to the rest of the Bay Area region and improve the environment. “Here in California sustainability is a big word because how do you keep doing what you normally do without hurting the environment or spending as much as our fossil fuels at the same time?,” said Jeff Stoos, construction manager. “So a piece of gear like this helps us manage those and do both things at once.”
Watch the video to hear how the 336E H is helping keep The Golden State’s rail system on track.
