CAT 320 ELECTRIC MEDIUM EXCAVATOR FEATURES

 

CAT 320 ELECTRIC MEDIUM EXCAVATOR FEATURES

Good question. The Caterpillar (CAT) “CAT 320 Electric Medium Excavator” is a battery-electric prototype / upcoming electric variant of the well-known CAT 320 medium excavator.

Below is what is publicly known so far about its features, specs, and status — and also context: because it is still in prototype / pre-series stage (as of 2025), full production-spec sheets may vary or might not yet be finalized.

What is CAT 320 Electric

• CAT formally revealed at the trade fair Bauma 2022 that among its first four battery-electric machines was a “320 medium excavator” electric prototype.
• The electric lineup, sometimes referenced as “Z-line” in dealer materials, aims to bring a zero-emissions alternative for the medium excavator class ( 25 tonne).
• The intent: deliver comparable performance to the conventional diesel/hydraulic CAT 320, but with electric drive — reducing onsite emissions, lowering maintenance needs (less moving parts, fewer fluids/filters) and leveraging electric torque/respons

Known / Reported Specifications (Electric 320)

According to publicly available information from CAT and related sources:

Spec / Parameter	Reported Value / Range
Operating / Machine Weight	≈ 25,600 – 27,300 kg (≈ 25.6 – 27.3 t)
Bucket Capacity	~ 1.3 m³ (≈ 1.7 yd³)
Electric Battery Voltage / Capacity	750 V, 387 kWh installed battery pack (as per CAT’s “Electric Products” listing)
Runtime per Charge	Up to 8 hours (depending on application/work cycle) — or “unlimited” if tethered/grid-connected.
Charging Options	- On-board AC charger (dedicated AC connector) - Optional external DC fast charging (e.g., CCS) / grid-connected charging for continuous operation.
Electric Motor / Drive	Permanent-magnet electric motor (per Z-line spec sheet for 320) — 120 kW / 750 Nm (for the “320 Z-line” version) according to one spec-sheet version.

Reported Features & Advantages (vs Conventional Diesel 320)

From manufacturer/dealer communications about the electric 320:

Zero tailpipe emissions — making it more suitable for urban, indoor, noise-/pollution-sensitive sites.

• Reduced operating cost & maintenance — fewer moving parts, no diesel engine, no filters/fluids of a combustion engine; potentially lower TCO (total cost of ownership).
• On-board charger + support for DC fast charging / grid connection — giving flexibility depending on jobsite energy infrastructure and work demands.
• Comparable performance to diesel version (in medium-duty excavator class) — bucket size and machine weight are in line with conventional 25 t excavators.
• Operator cabin and support systems inherited from standard 320 — likely including ergonomic cab, digital controls/monitoring, tools & attachments compatibility, etc. A recent article mentions “proven features in terms of assistance systems and cab” are retained in the electric model.

What You Should Know — Prototype/Pre-series Status

• The “320 Electric” is listed by CAT as a “prototype” / battery-electric machine under development. As of the latest updates, it may not yet be broadly commercially available or mass-produced in all markets.
• Final specs — battery capacity, runtime, attachments compatibility, charging configuration, options — may vary depending on region, dealer, and regulatory environment.
• For heavy-duty or continuous heavy excavation (hard rock, long digging cycles), runtime per charge will depend heavily on duty cycle — “up to 8 hrs” is under typical utilization; heavy/hard work may reduce effective runtime

Use-cases & Suitability (Where Electric 320 Makes Most Sense)

Given the electric powertrain and medium-excavator spec, CAT 320 Electric is particularly suited for:

• Urban or residential construction sites where emissions/noise regulations apply.
• Infrastructure works where sustainability, carbon footprint reduction, or “green building” credentials are desired.
• Projects with access to charging infrastructure (AC charger / DC fast charger / grid connection) — e.g. recurring jobsites, depot-based operations, employer-owned sites.
• Light-to-medium excavation, landscaping, trenching, utility works, or earthmoving where 6–8 hours per charge suffices.

Additional Notes & What’s Not Yet Public

• As of now, CAT’s official public spec-sheet shows battery voltage & capacity, machine weight, bucket capacity, run-time per charge.
• More detailed hydraulic specs, digging depth/reach, lifting capacities, breakout forces, and bucket-type/attachment-compatibility — similar to classic hydraulic 320 — have not (publicly) been published for the electric variant.
• Because it's a prototype line, final availability, pricing, and localized specifications (for markets like India, where you are located) will depend on when CAT decides to launch in that region