The new Hitachi ZX135-7EB The new Hitachi ZX135-7EB model is designed to meet growing demand for emission-free operation, particularly in urban and residential environments where noise and exhaust emissions are regulated. According to Hitachi, the electric 13-tonner is not only quieter and cleaner than its diesel-powered ZX135-7 but also brings lower downtime, because of the reduced maintenance requirements. The excavator can operate in two modes: battery-powered operation using 198 kWh lithium-...

Atlas Copco’s B-Air 185-12 is battery operated Atlas Copco introduced the B-Air 185-12 in 2024 as the world’s first battery driven portable air compressor. Eighteen months later it now has a demonstration unit in the UK. The B-Air 185-12 features five to 12 bar of pressure, a stable flow rate of 5.4-3.7 m3/min and 55 kWh battery storage capacity. With power delivered from its onboard power pack, in operation a fully charged unit needs no fuel or  local power source to plug into. Atlas C...

The Komatsu PC26E-6 The Komatsu PC26E-6 (2.5-tonne) is coming to the European market to join the smaller PC20E (2-tonne) and larger PC33E-6 (3.5-tonne) in the Japanese company’s line-up of electric mini-excavators. The PC26E-6 has a 15.8 kW engine, an operating weight of 2,655 kg and a buck capacity of 0.035 to 0.085 cubic metres (35-85 litres). Emanuele Viel, product marketing manager at Komatsu Europe, said: “As demand for electric compact machinery continues to rise, particularly in urban...

Falco found that the Takeuchi TB20e ran for five days between charges After trialling a pair of all-electric Takeuchi TB20e mini-excavators, Falco Construction has ordered 15 of the machines, with delivery expected within the next few weeks. Falco teamed up with to UK Power Networks for a 16-month trial of two TB20e diggers. Feedback from site teams was that performance surpassed expectations, with batteries lasting five days without re-charging. And they are back to capacity within a few hours....

One of Murphy’s two new Sany SY215E battery-powered execavators Murphy has purchased two Chinese-made Sany SY215E excavators that are powered by cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate batteries, manufactured by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) According to Sany, the battery can last six to eight hours with a one-hour charging capability to 80%. Murphy’s plant and transport managing director, Brendan Sugrue, said: “At Murphy, we are dedicated to improving operational efficiency...

According to the Unite union, more than 30 construction workers have been suspended from the Johnson Matthey’s hydrogen gigafactory construction site in Hertfordshire for refusing to accept worsening conditions. More than 30 workers have been suspended from the Johnson Matthey’s hydrogen gigafactory construction site in Hertfordshire for refusing to accept worsening dangerous conditions. Johnson Matthey’s contractors, BGEN and Bilfinger, are also accused of disregarding mental as well as p...

The two-year old Kubota KX019-4 has been converted to battery power West-Midlands’ plant and tool specialist WHC Hire Services is the first company in the UK to offer customers an electric Kubota mini excavator, using the company’s Requip Electric Retrofit conversion technology. The machine, built with local dealer Lister Wilder, will be offered to customers from the start of 2026, as the business looks to gauge interest from end-users on site. WHC, based in Tewkesbury with depots in Worcest...

National Pile Croppers has an array of hydraulic pile croppers at work Some 17,000 piles are being sunk into the ground for the foundations of the new Agratas £4bn electric vehicle battery factory in Bridgwater, Somerset.  The development of Building One – the first of three – is being undertaken by Balfour Beatty and two of its subcontractors, Synergy Plant and Toureen Plant, on behalf of principal contractor Sir Robert McAlpine. National Pile Croppers has been commissioned to supply and...

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK undertaking work at the Thorpe Marsh battery energy storage system in Doncaster Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK will undertake civil works at Fidra Energy’s multi-million-pound Thorpe Marsh site in Doncaster. Thorpe Marsh is three times the size of any other battery energy storage system (BESS) project currently in operation or under construction in the UK. It will be capable of exporting more than two million MWh a year, enough to supply around 785,000 homes. A...

Bullivant’s Junttan PMx2e Roger Bullivant has deployed a Junttan PMx2e, powered by a 392 kWh battery system, on Morgan Sindall’s Ardrossan Community Campus site, a £115m education development in North Ayrshire. According to Bullivant, it is the first time that a fully battery-powered pile driving rig has been used in the UK. The PMx2e has a replaceable battery pack that provides up to eight hours of piling per charge. By optimising the use of the two batteries, the PMx2e showed itself t...