JCB Electric Diggers In Full Production

JCB said it is in full production its first fully electric mini-excavator and has delivered more than than 50 machines. The 19C-1E models – JCB’s first-ever electric diggers – are now coming off the assembly line at JCB Compact Products in Cheadle, Staffordshire, with orders coming from customers in Europe and North America.

Using leading automotive battery technology, the zero emissions and low noise 19C-1E delivers the performance of a conventional diesel-powered 1.9-tonne mini excavator, JCB said. The machine comes with JCB’s LiveLink telematics as standard.

The machine is five times quieter than its diesel counterpart and can be fully charged in under two hours, JCB said. Expected applications include working inside buildings and in emissions and noise-sensitive inner-city areas, as well as in factories, tunnels or basements, for digging foundations, or on utility projects. JCB said that fully charged, the 19C-1E can put in a typical full day’s shift for a mini-excavator.

JCB Chief Innovation Officer Tim Burnhope said: “In urban environments in particular, contractors are understandably very keen to operate zero emissions equipment whenever possible, including outdoors. I’m delighted that the model is now in full production after successful feedback from customers in many key markets during the evaluation stage.”