Caterpillar to Spotlight “The Next Hundred Years” at CES 2025

Irving, Texas— Caterpillar Inc. will launch its Centennial Celebration during CES 2025, providing visitors the opportunity not only to reflect on the company’s global impact over the last century but to envision what’s in store for the future. Caterpillar’s exhibit, “The Next Hundred Years: Experience What’s Possible,” will feature a powerful combination of technologies and expertise designed to highlight some of the ways Caterpillar is evolving with customers through the energy transition.

“Caterpillar was founded in 1925 with an innovative spirit that continues today. Over the past one hundred years, the company has built on that legacy — creating industry-leading products, technologies, services and solutions,” said Rob Hoenes, Senior Vice President of Caterpillar’s Electrification + Energy Solutions division.

Taking center stage at the Caterpillar exhibit will be a 55K lbs. Cat® 972 Wheel Loader retrofitted with newly- and rapidly-developed power capabilities that reflect Caterpillar’s commitment to provide solutions to answer the unique challenges the energy transition presents for each individual jobsite, operation and business objective.

The 972 Wheel Loader features a technical demonstrator Extended Range Electrified Machine hybrid retrofit. The demonstrator maintains performance similar to a diesel machine and does not require DC charging. The retrofit could eliminate the need for additional electrical infrastructure at job sites.  

“What sets this demonstrator apart from other Cat battery electric machines is an additional power source,” said Rob Janssen, Vice President & General Manager at Caterpillar. “In this case, it’s a conventional diesel generator running AC power to a rectifier, which converts energy from AC to DC. The energy created is used to charge the battery, drive the machine or both.” 

Additional key features of the demonstrator:   

• It serves as an example of how Cat machines nearing end-of-life can be rebuilt and repowered in a way that allows them to function as part of a reduced-carbon future. 

• The technology could allow a customer to drive on 100% zero emission battery power for several hours. For extended operation, the machine can operate on hybrid mode with electricity generated from an onboard gen set.  

• This retrofit model could be an effective option for customers looking to lower emissions, but not ready to go all-in on battery electric.  

• The system can charge overnight on a regular utility grid connection at 240V. 

Visitors to the Caterpillar exhibit will also experience a virtual job site of the future showcasing the infrastructure required to support electrified job sites, varying charging schedules, and the complexities of a job site powered by the full Caterpillar ecosystem. 

Key technologies featured in the exhibit:  

Cat Command

• A remote operating station will allow attendees to operate Cat machines physically working at Caterpillar’s Tinaja Hills Demonstration & Learning Center in Green Valley, Arizona. 

VisionLink

• The cloud-based software application is designed to take the guesswork out of fleet management by providing key insights to maximize performance — regardless of fleet size or equipment manufacturer. Actionable equipment performance data is delivered to a customer’s desktop or mobile device to help customers make informed decisions geared toward analyzing performance and improving productivity. 

“Our industry-leading digital capabilities convey a distinct competitive advantage. We have the world’s largest autonomous fleet of haul trucks, with more than 560 in operation at 24 sites on three continents,” Hoenes added. “We also offer autonomous machines and assets, including dozers, wheel loaders and compactors that can be operated remotely around the world. Our customers are using these technologies, including connectivity and electrification, to increase the efficiency and output — and by extension, the value — of their operations.”   

Another exhibit feature, the Centennial Corridor, will allow visitors to experience the Caterpillar legacy firsthand. The company’s first 10 decades will be represented, enabling attendees to recognize the significant role Caterpillar has played in building a better more sustainable world and its contributions to society at large.      

CES 2025 runs from Tuesday, Jan. 7 through Friday, Jan. 10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Caterpillar booth is in the center’s West Hall, booth #6416.  For more information on the Caterpillar exhibit visit cat.com/CES. #CATatCES