Editor’s Note: This is Part Two of an eight-part series on the evolution of building equipment and the diesel fuel alternatives manufacturers are introducing, including hybrid machines, electric and battery-powered equipment, and hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cell technology. You can read Part One in the series by clicking here .
Over the past few years, manufacturers have made several announcements of new electric or hybrid-electric machines. Most of the particular offerings fall within the compact equipment category, although many cross machines have extended into larger sizes.
For the fully electric models, only a handful of cases have notices been followed up simply by news of full production and availability.
The onset of electrification has opened the door for numerous collaborations as well. Green Machine Equipment and Moog have both worked with several OEMs on the development of electrification on their respective machines.
Depending on the application, much of the battery-powered equipment provides enough power to work through a full 8-hour day on one charge.
Here’s a look at some of the devices construction gear manufacturers have announced or are produced to date.
The CX15 EV is powered by a 21. 5 kWh lithium-ion battery whose charge will last up to 8 hours depending on the application. Case
Case
Situation Construction Gear first produced a big splash in the electrical market with the unveiling of the 580 EV electric backhoe at the particular 2020 ConExpo-Con/Agg .
The particular 580 EV is powered by a 480-volt, 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This battery pack separately powers the drivetrain and hydraulic motors of the machine, the key to achieving equal breakout forces to those found on diesel-powered machines.
And when the 580 EV is in the simultaneous operation of the particular loader and drivetrain, the battery pack delivers better performance than its diesel counterpart, Case says.
Earlier this year, Case teased the particular launch associated with its second foray into electrification, the CX15 EV a 2, 900-pound compact excavator, due to hit the particular North American market in 2023.
According to Case, the CX15 EV will be powered by a 16-kilowatt-hour electric motor. The electric motor is powered by a 21. 5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion electric battery that’s charged either by the 110/220-volt onboard charger or simply by an external rapid phone chrgr that can have the device charged within 90 minutes.
Cat 320 Electric Excavator Caterpillar Caterpillar
Four new Caterpillar prototype battery electrical machines were on display at Bauma 2022.
Models include the 320 medium electric excavators, the 950 GC medium electric powered wheel loader, the 301. 9 electric powered compact excavators, and the 906 electric compact wheel loader. The 320 Electric excavators will be run by a Cat 600-volt, 256 kWh battery pack with a runtime of up to eight hours on a single charge.
Capable of running up in order to eight hours on a single charge, or up to four to five hours of continuous trenching, the 301. 9 Electric mini excavators will be powered by a Cat 48 volt, 32kWh battery power. And the particular 906 electric compact wheel loader will be equipped with a Kitty 300-volt, 64 kWh battery that enables the operator to work upward to six hours on one charge.
According to Cat, runtimes for battery-powered machines are based on average, moderate applications.
The particular 301. 9 and 906 will be the first machines commercially available units in Europe and North America, with the 950 GC and 320 to follow in the coming years.
Doosan Bobcat introduced the particular world’s first all-electric small track loader, the T7X at CES 2022. Bobcat
Doosan Bobcat
Doosan Bobcat first unveiled a concept of an electric mini excavator at Bauma in 2016, eventually releasing the 1-ton E10e for commercial sale three years later.
As of 2022, electricity continues to shoot through the company’s machine with the introduction of its third electric compact excavator, the particular 2-ton E19e .
The 2-ton model expands the company’s lineup of battery-powered excavators, which now include the E10e and the E32e, a 3. 9-ton device that was released earlier this year.
The T7X is fully battery powered, replacing the traditional hydraulic work group with an electrical drive system, and designed to outperform its diesel counterparts, Bobcat says. Sunbelt Rentals took the particular first delivery of the T7X machines in September.
The electric Doosan 1 . 7-ton DX17Z was shown as a prototype at ConExpo 2020. Doosan Hyundai Doosan Infracore/Hyundai Construction Equipment
Hyundai Doosan Infracore unveiled a 1. 7-ton mini electrical excavator and a hybrid engine-equipped excavator at Bauma 2022. Both machines are scheduled for release in 2023.
The particular prototype system of the battery pack that powers the electric powered excavator has been shown in ConExpo 2020.
The battery packs consist associated with battery modules and a battery management system and a cooling system joined in the frame. The particular battery management system uses standardized designs so the packages can be configured with up to 32 modules “regardless of series or parallel, ” states the company. The battery cells are connected with a structural adhesive, and a wire bonding technology improves energy density plus stability. Doosan says this development allows it in order to accelerate both its electric battery pack business and the electrified products.
In addition , Doosan showed off the particular new DX20ZE, the first mass-produced electric excavator manufactured by Doosan. It is a 2-tonne electric mini-excavator due for full launch in 2023,
Also, Hyundai Construction Equipment had been showing off its 14-ton hydrogen excavator developed with regard to the initial time in Korea inside 2020. It features the hydrogen fuel cell power pack and a 1 . 8-ton mini-electric excavator.
Hevi Equipment Hevi Gear
Chinese transmission and drivetrain manufacturer Greenland Technologies jumped into the electric construction equipment race with its line of all-electric, lithium-ion powered machines released under the moniker Hevi Products .
The launch served as a rebranding of the company’s Greenland Machinery division plus includes the GEL-1800 and GEL-5000 electrical wheel loaders and the particular GEX-8000 electric powered excavator. Hevi says it has ambitious plans to expand into other product lines.
The particular launch included eight completely electric tandem asphalt compactors for the company’s HD CompactLine series. Furthermore, the company unveiled the world’s first electric powered roller along with oscillation. The combination enables the roller to small more quietly and with less vibration while emitting no pollutants.
Hamm says the particular new battery-powered rollers have the same operation and compaction performance as the coinciding diesel-powered models. Additionally , the models’ lithium-ion batteries will also be able to run on a single charge “for an entire typical workday. ”
The 23-kWh battery is designed to be maintenance-free and delivers 48 volts of onboard power. The company adds that energy launched from the drive engine and vibration motors when braking is recuperated.
JCB JCB
The 19C-1 E-Tec was the first of an electric range of devices for JCB.
Powered by four lithium-ion electric batteries, the machine goes from zero to full charge in 12 hours using a cable running from the machine to the standard 110-volt outlet. A full cost gives the particular machine three to 4 hours associated with operating time, or about a full day’s work for this size of a good excavator.
The excavator is part of JCB’s E-Tech line which includes telehandlers, scissor aerial lifts, industrial forklifts, and portable power packs.
In addition, electric model developments have been mentioned as component of the company’s new compact excavator agreement with Wacker Neuson.
Also, organization officials possess indicated news on both the particular agricultural plus construction gear sides in order to be revealed at CES 2023.
In addition , it presented the first 20-ton class lithium-ion battery pack electric device, the PC2210E.
The organization said its electric powered PC210E 20-tonne excavators will be launched in Japan and Europe next year. It uses the 123-kW lithium-ion battery power developed by Proterra and may operate regarding up to 8 hrs on a single charge.
The steering wheel loader was developed inside collaboration along with Moog, a manufacturer of precision control systems. The companies say the integrated nature of the particular system allows increased efficiency and controllability. It also enables for over-the-air feature updates.
In response to climate change awareness, Komatsu has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of that will, the company is active in the development of electric construction products to achieve absolutely no exhaust gas emissions.
Two basic lithium-ion versions are coming options are usually available: a standard 240-ampere-hour battery pack and the beefier 400-Ah battery power. Kovaco Kovaco Electric/First Green Industries
Kovaco Electric, now known as First Green Sectors, offers the Elise 900 skid steer and MiniZ 400 compact utility loader.
The particular Elise 900 is the initial full-sized electrical skid steer loader. This offers a typical attachment plate, 17. 17 GPM hydraulic oil flow, a lift capacity associated with 2, 646 pounds, plus a run time of up to 8 hours (with a 400Ah battery). In addition, the MiniZ 400 is an utility loader that offers fully remote operation with a run time of up to 8-hours.
Manitou Manitou
Manitou Group’s Bauma display showcased a record number associated with new products, including four new electric aerial work platforms, four brand new mid-height telehandlers, two electric rotating telehandlers, and a fixed electric telehandler.
Adding to its range of compact telehandlers, Manitou launched the first 100% electric model in the product category, the particular MT 625e. Powered by a 25- or 33-kWh lithium-ion battery, the MT 625e has a 2. 5-ton lift capacity and reaches up to 19. 7 feet high.
Manitou says the electric telehandler offers the same performance as its diesel counterpart with 56% less maintenance.
The MT 625e shares the same features as other models in Manitou’s compact telehandler range, which includes the Safety Pack that automatically warns the operator and those on the jobsite of unsafe operations and the intuitive Harmony screen that provides real-time usage and servicing information.
Sticking with the electric theme, the company rolled out its new Oxygen line of low emissions electrical rough-terrain systems. Models include the 160 ATJe, 160 ATJ+e, 180 ATJe, and 200 ATJe.
According to Manitou, they are the first manufacturer to have a range of totally electric rough terrain platforms from 16 meters in order to 20 meters.
In addition , Gehl, a brand of Manitou Group has its mid-frame 69-horsepower R 165 skid loader. The loader runs on a 48-volt lithium-ion battery system and has a charge life associated with 8 hours, company officials say.
The brand new equipment trio consists of the particular 11-ton e12 excavator, the 1 . 3-cubic-yard es1000 swing loader, plus the 6-ton eD6 site dumper.
According to the company, the particular e12, an electric version of the 12MTX, can be charged in eight hrs and lasts the same exact amount of time when in operation.
It is the first volume model of crawler crane available on the market with a fully electric program featuring permanent magnetic synchronous motor technology, the company says. (To see the crane in action, check out the video at the end of this story. )
Powered by a 282 Kwh liquid-cooled lithium iron phosphate battery capable of 8 hours of procedure time, the particular 80-ton motorised hoist features the motor and inverter supplied by Danfoss Power Solutions’ Editron division and a Danfoss Power Solutions D1P hydraulic pump.
Sany states the introduction of the fully electric crane reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability plus will help meet the particular increasing demand for zero-emission construction machines.
Tobroco-Giant Tobroco-Giant
Tobroco-Giant introduced the first two electric wheel loaders in Bauma 2019.
The G2200E and G2200E X-TRA entered production at the end of 2019 and have proven to be a success. Designed for indoor operations or urban building, the machines are equipped with the 48-volt lithium-ion battery that has a minimum capability of 12. 3 kilowatts.
The organization offers four lithium-ion electric battery choices with varying charge lengths under normal conditions: 6. 4-kilowatt hours for a 2-hour capacity; twelve. 3 kWh for 4 hours; 18. 4 kWh with regard to 6 hrs; and 24. 6 kilo watt hour for eight hours.
During the next few years, the range of the company’s electrically driven models will be expanded so that in the future an electrical variant will be available for every model.
The first machines obtainable will be the G2700E and G2700E X-TRA. With an operating weight of 2, 595 kg, both machines operate in a class above the G2200E (X-TRA) and are capable of handling heavier work.
The G2700E is outfitted with a 260 Ah, 48V LPT battery, optional batteries along with 390 Oh and 520 Ah are available. With 2 separate electrical engines, 6, 5 kW for the particular drive plus 12 kilowatt for work hydraulics, there is always enough power to carry out work accurately. Also, there is automatic recuperation every time the machine rolls out or even drives down a mountain.
The particular TB20e is similar in performance to Takeuchi’s diesel-powered TB216 compact excavator. Takeuchi
Takeuchi
Takeuchi debuted its first electric compact machine from ConExpo-Con/Agg 2017, the e240 electric excavator. The machine was more of the Frankenstein associated with sorts, with electric components installed simply by Green Machine after the diesel engine was removed.
The e210R compact excavator was launched within 2019, again with the battery pack and drive components retrofitted by Green Machine. And in 2020, Takeuchi came back to ConExpo-Con/Agg with the particular TB220e, the company’s 1st fully electric powered compact excavator built in order to be battery-powered from the start.
This year, Takeuchi unveiled the TB20e UR electric excavator , which will be accessible at select United Rentals locations.
The business says it will end up being rolling out a full collection of electrical products to meet customer demands and sustainability goals.
Toro Toro
Powered by lithium-ion battery technologies, the Toro e-Dingo 500 compact utility loader was released in 2019. It was designed for tasks that require heavy and continuous operation indoors.
At the 2022 World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas, Toro unveiled the particular e -2500 electric powered Ultra Buggy , along with the official release coming in November.
Run by Toro’s HyperCell battery power system, the Ultra Buggy builds upon Toro’s success with its line of Material Buggies by offering operators a battery-powered, zero-emission solution that will open the door to new jobsites, particularly interior applications.
Like its gas counterparts, the particular electric Ultra Buggy is designed in order to haul up to 16 cubic feet or 2, five hundred pounds associated with material inside a 3/8-inch-thick polyurethane tub.
The company has pushed its HyperCell battery system across the entire lineup from mowers to utility loaders and is expected in order to continue within the long term.
Volvo’s L25 electric is being put to the test, delivering zero exhaust emissions, reduced noise, and a more comfortable work environment. Volvo
Volvo
It was three years ago that Volvo Construction Equipment introduced its very first battery-powered devices and announced the intention to phase out the diesel versions of its compact equipment with battery-powered equivalents going forward.
Volvo’s current selection of electric equipment includes the L20 and L25 electrical wheel loaders and the particular EC18, ECR18, and ECR25 electric excavators.
For the loading machines, the firm offers two battery pack choices: 33kWh or even 40kWh. Users can expect upward to six hours of active function per cost depending on the application
The initial North American deliveries from the ECR25 Electric small excavator plus L25 Electric compact steering wheel loaders were made earlier in 2022. Three additional models were recently opened to reservations regarding delivery inside 2023.
Volvo says the use associated with electric parts reduces machine maintenance simply by 30%.
Wacker Neuson
Wacker Neuson has been quietly developing the line of electric machines for nearly 4 years. The line already includes two-wheel loaders, a good excavator, a dumper, and two rammers.
At Bauma 2022, the company unveiled the new TH412e electric powered telehandler, the particular RD28e electric powered roller, the Charging Box for mobile power supply, and the very compact DT05e dumper.
Additionally , the third generation of the particular WL20e e-wheel loader has been released. Other new devices include the 5065e electric wheel loader, the successor to the 5055e, as well as the 1445e E-telescopic handler, which both rely on the particular latest lithium-ion battery technology.
XCMG
The XE35U-E XCMG excavator is a battery-powered mini excavator that will has 70 kWh associated with system energy.
The operating weight for that mini excavator is about 9, 500 pounds, plus the 0. 16-cubic-yard bucket has digging force of about 6. four pounds.
The particular cab tilts forward intended for access in order to the main electrical device, main valve, slewing motor, and central rotary joint. Some other service areas could be accessed through the completely opening rear hood.
Within Part Three of our series, we’ll explore the pros plus cons of diesel-electric hybrid machines.
Yanmar
Nearly a year before Bauma 2022, Yanmar gave the particular press the preview of its first electrical mini excavator prototype, the SV17e.
The organization positions this machine as an important strategic step in the transformation for Yanmar Compact Equipment and indicative of the direction from the corporation.
The SV17e mini excavator is aimed at customers in the European marketplace and plays within the 1. 5- to 2-metric-ton segment. It is powered by an electric drive with 48-volt batteries and fast charging capability.
The introduction of the electric excavator is part of Yanmar’s commitment to electrification and the particular intended intro of a full range of electric compact equipment.
The CX15 EV is powered by a 21. 5 kWh lithium-ion battery whose charge will last up to 8 hours depending on the application. Case 
Cat 320 Electric Excavator Caterpillar 
Doosan Bobcat introduced the particular world’s first all-electric small track loader, the T7X at CES 2022. Bobcat 
The electric Doosan 1 . 7-ton DX17Z was shown as a prototype at ConExpo 2020. Doosan 
Hevi Equipment 
Hamm 
JCB 
John Deere 
Komatsu 
Two basic lithium-ion versions are coming options are usually available: a standard 240-ampere-hour battery pack and the beefier 400-Ah battery power. Kovaco 
Manitou 
Mecalac 
Sany 
Tobroco-Giant 
The particular TB20e is similar in performance to Takeuchi’s diesel-powered TB216 compact excavator. Takeuchi 
Toro 
Volvo’s L25 electric is being put to the test, delivering zero exhaust emissions, reduced noise, and a more comfortable work environment. Volvo 
