Deere 744 and 824 X-Tier wheel loaders [Video]

Think of John Deere’s new E-Drive 744 and 824 X-Tier hybrid wheel loaders as the range-extended EVs or PHEVs of the heavy equipment world, offering onboard diesel power generation and fully electric drive.

Deere says its new electric drive wheel loaders are engineered with the demanding conditions of the construction job site in mind, and that they’re an ideal solution for customers looking to benefit from the instant torque and precision of electric power while offering unparalleled fuel efficiency, enhanced productivity and unmatched operator comfort.

Both the 744 and 824 X-Tier model hybrid wheel loaders feature John Deere’s exclusive Electric Variable Transmission(EVT) E-Drive system (below), which uses a JD9 diesel engine as the primary power source. The engine doesn’t connect to any other part of the driveline. There’s no torque converter and no traditional transmission sending power from the engine to the wheels, hydraulics, or anything else. Instead, the diesel engine acts more like a generator, producing electricity …