The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas featured more than just the latest in AI and display technology—it also showcased Komatsu’s groundbreaking innovation: an all-electric underwater bulldozer.
A leader in heavy machinery, Komatsu, which has a history spanning over a century and serves as a principal sponsor of Formula 1’s Williams Racing team, made its CES debut with a fully functional, autonomous prototype of its next-generation amphibious bulldozer. This is not just a concept; it’s a working model that could change the landscape of underwater construction.
The electric bulldozer comes equipped with a 450 kWh battery and boasts a four-hour charging time. There is potential to upgrade the battery to 500 kWh, extending its operational runtime to six hours. Currently, the bulldozer is capable of diving up to seven meters (about 23 feet) deep, limited by GPS technology. However, Komatsu plans to expand this operational depth to 50 meters (164 feet) in the future.
But why bulldoze underwater? The concept isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem. Komatsu first introduced an underwater bulldozer in 1970, with the D155W becoming the world’s first amphibious bulldozer a year later. Over 1,200 such machines have been deployed across Japan in various projects over the years. They are used in coastal construction, including projects to protect against storm surges, and for river and coastline maintenance, such as dredging harbors and reducing flooding. The bulldozer is also vital for ecosystem restoration projects.
Shuu Komatsu, team manager of the Komatsu Hydraulic Excavator-Bulldozer Development Group, expressed the company’s pride in their innovation: “Taking a bulldozer designed for land and adapting it for underwater use was a monumental challenge. Our predecessors at Komatsu developed this technology over 50 years ago, and it is still in service today. There is truly no other equipment like it.”
Komatsu, in collaboration with Asunaro Aoki Construction, plans to showcase the next-generation underwater bulldozer at Expo 2025 in Osaka, which will run from April to October. This marks another exciting chapter in the company’s legacy of pushing the boundaries of construction technology.
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