Komatsu electric mini excavators coming soon in October

Japanese equipment manufacturer, Komatsu, is gearing up to launch its electric excavators in Japan, starting with its new 3-tonne class PC30E-6 electric mini excavator and PC05E-1 electric micro excavator.

Both models are set to be launched in October, with Komatsu planning to gradually roll them out to the rest of the world later this year or next year.

The new PC30E-6 is a fully remodeled version of the PC30E-5 introduced as a rental model in the Japanese market in 2020. While maintaining the current machine’s features of zero exhaust gas, zero exhaust heat, low noise and low vibration, the new machine is equipped with a lithium-ion battery in place of a lead-acid battery.

According to Komatsu, that extends its operating hours and makes the vehicle more compact and lightweight.

Three work modes are available on the PC30E-6 – a powerful, high workload mode, and two mode levels to reduce power consumption. The operator can easily select a desired mode from the monitor panel to suit the task at hand.

The PC05E-1, on the other hand, is an expanded model of the electric micro excavator PC01E-1, which was launched in the Japanese market in March 2022. Like the PC01E-1, the PC05E-1 is powered by the Honda Mobile Power Pack and Honda eGX electrified power unit.

The PC05E-1 is based on the PC05-1 hydraulic excavator, which is ideal for small-scale civil engineering and construction work, as well as gas, electrical, and pipe-laying work.

The batteries in the PC05E-1 are swappable, meaning operators can easily swap depleted ones out for fully charged ones to reduce downtime.

Komatsu is blazing the trail in establishing an electric construction equipment market in Japan by being the first manufacturer in the country to launch fully commercial battery-powered construction equipment.

The firm is hoping to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.