Cat’s Battery Electric Power Unit prototype debuts on Doppstadt screening solution at IFAT 2026

Doppstadt has chosen the Cat Battery Electric Power Unit (BEPU) to power its SWS 6 Spiral Shaft Separator and will be shown together for the first time at IFAT 2026 in Munich, Germany, from May 4 to 7. 

Caterpillar's clean power alternative 

The Cat BEPU is a real-world solution designed to make electrification simpler, faster , and more practical for OEMs, helping them offer new power solutions without reinventing their machines. 

The BEPU is a compact, plug-and-play solution that can replace a diesel engine in the same space, with the same mounting locations and relative position in the machine. It brings the battery, motor, inverter, onboard charging, cooling , and controls together, so an electric power unit can fit where an engine used to sit, and OEMs can use existing chassis platforms as they transition from diesel to electric.

By solving the integration challenge at the power-unit level, the BEPU helps remove unnecessary complexity and gives OEMs a clearer, faster path forward as power solutions expand.

Features of Cat's BEPU 

• A true drop-in solution - Instead of maintaining separate designs for diesel and electric variants, OEMs can focus on core machine architecture and offer customers choices based on application needs that  help simplify engineering, parts procurement, service , and support.  
• Speed and simplicity - Electrification introduces new technologies and components that continue to evolve rapidly. Bringing these elements together into a single packaged solution reduces the need for OEMs to invest in costly, time-intensive engineering projects. 
• A faster path to market- With fewer redesigns and fewer engineering and sourcing hurdles, OEMs can offer electric options sooner, staying responsive as customer expectations, applications , and regulations change. 
• More flexibility to meet customer needs - Removing design and development barriers makes it easier for OEMs to deliver the electrification advantages that customers demand, which could be zero-exhaust emissions, less noise, expanded application opportunities, and even the potential to lower total cost of ownership by eliminating fuel use and reducing routine maintenance. 

Caterpillar worked closely with Doppstadt to accelerate the electrification journey 

Over the last year, Caterpillar and Cat dealer Zeppelin Power Systems have been working with Doppstadt to explore the electrification journey while maintaining performance parity with their diesel-powered machines.

Keen to continue to explore new opportunities and offer its customers a range of options, Doppstadt has worked with teams from Caterpillar and Zeppelin Power Systems to install the BEPU into its SWS 6 Spiral Shaft Separator. The result is a zero-exhaust emissions solution designed for indoor, urban, and highly regulated environments.

"Doppstadt have a long history of innovation and works to support their customers' sustainability goals. This is an exciting trial of an electrified variant of their SWS 6 Spiral Shaft Separator, which delivers zero-exhaust emissions and low noise when in operation," explains Andy Curtis, customer solutions director at Caterpillar Industrial Power Systems Division.

"The Cat BEPU has enabled the rapid development of this option alongside their diesel variant, with minimal engineering effort. Its intermittent duty cycle, suitability for indoor use, and access to low-power grid energy make the BEPU an ideal fit, with an on-board battery buffering simplifying energy management for end users."

The prototype machine will be showcased at Doppstadt's booth FM.709/1 (outdoor area) at IFAT Munich, from May 4- to 7, 2026. Representatives from Caterpillar Industrial Power System Division will be available on Doppstadt's stand to preview the BEPU. A technical deep dive session organized by Zeppelin Power Systems will be held on May 5.

Following the show, Doppstadt plans to begin field trials using the BEPU-powered SWS 6 Spiral Shaft Separator. Insights from real-world operations will help validate performance and inform how this solution will evolve.