UK Power Networks and groundworks contractor Falco Construction have collaborated to bring two fully-electric Takeuchi TB20e mini excavators to projects on the power network.
The pair will be rolled out in a trial over the next two years, working on excavation work in London, the South East and the East.
If the trial is successful, Falco will invest more than £6million in replacing its 120-strong diesel-powered fleet of excavators with fully electric models.
The e-diggers’ batteries last up to five days before re-charging, and then they are back to capacity within hours – reducing the need and cost for constant refuelling.
Also, the excavators are 13 decibels quieter in comparison to diesel models during normal operations.
Katherine Jennings, continuous improvement manager at UK Power Networks, said, “We are incredibly proud of this trial and excited about the initial positive findings.
“E-diggers could ultimately be a huge enabler in UK Power Networks and Falco achieving their joint Net Zero commitments.
“We are passionate about partnering with our suppliers to drive continuous improvement in the sustainability sphere.
“This is critical, as meaningful change and a just transition can only come about through shared goals and joint initiatives.”
Alan Seyfi, support services director at Falco Construction, added, “The Takeuchi Model is the first electric mini-excavator we have seen that performs comparably with more traditionally-powered diggers.
“We estimate that replacing our current 120-strong fleet with TB20e’s would directly remove over 200 tonnes of CO2e emissions each year and be a major step forward on our road to Net Zero.”
