JCB has gone into full production with the construction industry’s first fully electric mini-excavator. Fifty of JCB’s electric diggers, the 19C-1E, are now coming off the assembly line at JCB Compact Products in Cheadle, Staffordshire, with orders rolling in from customers from across Europe and North America.
The company says the machine is five times quieter than its diesel counterpart and can be fully charged in under two hours. The model is intended for companies working inside buildings and in emissions and noise-sensitive inner-city areas. Fully charged, the machine can put in a typical full day’s shift. Additional benefits include charging costs, which will be 50% cheaper than using red diesel. Servicing costs are also expected to be up to 70% lower compared with the diesel model.
Contractors are keen to operate zero emissions equipment whenever possible, including outdoors said Tim Burnhope, JCB’s chief innovation officer. “I’m delighted that the model is now in full production after successful feedback from customers in many key markets during the evaluation stage,” he said.
The zero emissions and low noise 19C-1E Uses automotive battery technology to delivers comparable performance to a conventional diesel-powered 1.9-tonne mini-excavator. The company says it is perfect for working indoors or outdoors, in factories, tunnels or basements, for digging foundations, or on utility projects and comes with JCB’s LiveLink telematics as standard.
JCB compact products’ MD Robert Winter said, “This is a historic moment for JCB and for JCB Compact Products. We are delighted to go into full production with the industry’s first fully electric mini-excavator. The machine has a very promising future ahead of it.”
