D7E Track-Type Tractor with Electric Drive Train

The D7E is engineered from the ground up to help customers lower operating costs, increase productivity and improve efficiencies, the D7E track-type tractor is the first of its kind. It uses a Cat C9 engine powered by ACERT® Technology - compliant with Tier 3 regulations for criteria pollutants - and an on-board generator to efficiently convert engine power into AC electrical current that drives the tractor. This electric drive train configuration has 60 percent fewer moving parts, requiring less service and replacement than conventional transmissions, enabling the D7E to extend drive train component life and reduce lifetime operating costs by an average of 10 percent. The electric drive system also enables the customer to move up to 25 percent more material per gallon of fuel consumed and reduce the accompanying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by similar amounts - improvements that wouldn't be possible with conventional drive systems. Also, with visibility increases of 35 percent and improved access /egress, the D7E is safe on the jobsite. To further evaluate and understand the sustainability related gains, the D7E is being compared with its predecessor, the D7R Series 2, using life cycle assessment and sustainability index evaluations that quantify environmental impacts such as GHG emissions and material content. The D7E is scheduled for introduction in 2009.