In 2023, the new energy excavator market entered an explosive period driven by both technological innovation and environmental regulations. The breakthrough in battery technology and the optimization of system integration all reflect the industry's persistence and pursuit of green construction concepts.
This year, major domestic and foreign manufacturers have continuously achieved innovative results, launching diversified electric excavator products for different engineering needs, covering various energy replenishment routes such as pure electricity, towing, battery swapping, hydrogen fuel, etc., demonstrating the confidence and strength of enterprises in competing in the new energy track, as well as huge market potential. This article will review the latest developments of mainstream electric excavator products with certain representativeness in the past year, and provide you with insights into the development highlights of the new energy excavator industry in 2023.
In March 2023, Komatsu demonstrated in Japan the joint development of the electric micro excavator PC05E-1 with Honda Motor Corporation. This power source adopts Honda Mobile Power Pack e (replaceable battery) and electric power unit (egX). When the battery balance is insufficient, it can continue to work by replacing the battery without wasting time due to charging. In addition, the battery is arranged in the middle of the center of the vehicle body under the operator's seat, achieving the same stability and compactness as gasoline powered vehicles.
The new 145 X-Tier electric excavator model was released at CES 2023. The machine is powered by an immersive cooled Kreisel electric battery, which reduces moving parts, noise, and emissions. John Deere said he expects it to go public in the coming years. [Click to learn more]
In March 2023, Volvo Wanda and leading North American manufacturer of telescopic excavators, Gradall, showcased their collaborative development of the electrified version of the XL 4100 multi-purpose fast wheeled excavator at the CONEXPO exhibition. This machine is completely powered by two Volvo Banda batteries and can be installed in the existing engine compartment. The hydraulic system powered by the Volvo Wanda Motor Power Takeoff (EM PTO) allows the machine to operate on its own using battery power. The system will provide 94kW · h of energy and can be fully charged within 45 minutes using a 150kW charger.
In May 2023, Komatsu launched an empirical experiment (PoC) on a medium-sized hydraulic excavator concept vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The concept vehicle series that started the empirical experiment this time is based on Komatsu's medium-sized hydraulic excavator. It is developed by using a hydrogen fuel cell system, hydrogen storage tank, and Komatsu's independently developed core components and overall control technology manufactured by Toyota Motor Company. It achieves "zero emissions" and significantly reduces noise and vibration, while also possessing the same powerful excavation performance and high operability as fuel models.
In June 2023, the all-new Volvo EC500 plug-in electric excavator was officially launched at the Volvo Construction Equipment Shanghai factory. As the company's first plug-in electric excavator, the plug-in design of this machine allows it to continuously engage in repetitive operations such as loading, turning, and dumping, without stopping for charging or refueling. In an ideal state, it can improve power efficiency by up to 99%, which is significantly higher than traditional diesel powered models
