Video: Takeuchi Brings Its First Electric Excavator, the TB20e, to North America

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Transcript

Takeuchi is rolling out its first electric excavator to customers after a nearly six-year development process.

The latest model of its lithium-ion battery-powered excavator, the TB20e, was showcased at ConExpo – Con/Agg 2023

"We designed the TB20e to help our dealers provide customers with an excavator that delivers outstanding features, unmatched performance, excellent serviceability, and great value – along with all the unique benefits that a battery-powered machine has to offer,” said David Caldwell, national product manager for Takeuchi-US.

The manufacturer initially made a splash at ConExpo 2017 with its e240 electric excavator, one of the few electric machines seen by show attendees at the time. However, that unit was more of a Frankenstein of sorts, having its electrical components installed by Green Machine after the diesel engine was removed.

In 2019, the e210R compact excavator was launched, again with battery and drive components retrofitted by Green Machine. 

Three years ago, in 2020, Takeuchi came back to ConExpo-Con/Agg with the TB220e, its model built with battery power from the start.

Finally, months before ConExpo2023, Takeuchi's first electric excavator, the TB20e was shipped and available at select United Rental locations in the United States. The show was the machine’s unofficial unveiling to customers, as dealers already have or will soon have the TB20es available.

“It's a fully functional excavator so it has all the features that the TB216 would have,” Caldwell said. “The only difference is that we're not using an engine, so we have no engine oil, we have no engine oil filter, and we have no coolant.”

In addition, he said, the overall number of lubricants has been reduced due to fewer moving parts.

Before making the machine available to dealers, the TB20e underwent a year of customer feedback and testing through a pilot program Takeuchi conducted with United Rentals. 

Takeuchi TB20e being operated inside a buildingWith no emissions and reduced noise, indoor applications are viable for the TB20e.Takeuchi“There's a lot of advantages to this machine over the long term,” Caldwell said.

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The TB20e has an operating weight of 4,255 pounds and features a standard long arm with an integrated thumb mount. 

According to Caldwell, it has a maximum dig depth of 7 feet 10 inches and a maximum reach of 13 feet 4 inches. 

A primary hydraulic circuit plumbed to the mid-arm delivers 9 gallons per minute for running a hydraulic hammer or other hydraulically driven attachments. 

Inside the cab, operators will find a color, 4.3-inch high-definition multi-function monitor, electrohydraulic joystick controls, key start, a suspension seat, traditional travel and blade control levers, and an electronic dial throttle. 

The dial throttle increases the motor speed incrementally; however, unlike a diesel engine that gets increasingly louder as its rpms ramp up, the TB20e’s only sounds come from its motor and pumps.

“It's ideal for working in applications where there are noise restrictions,” Caldwell said, citing the food industry, hospitals, schools, or other locations where noise or emissions are more heavily regulated.

With no emissions and reduced noise, and a retractable undercarriage, indoor applications are applicable. 

Similar in performance to Takeuchi's diesel-powered TB216 compact excavator, the TB20e is powered by a lithium-ion battery. When fully charged, the machine will run anywhere from four to six hours, depending on the application and environment.

“If you’re running a hammer on it, runtimes may be reduced, but in typical applications where the operator may be on and off the machine quite a bit, you may get anywhere from six to eight hours of runtime just depending on how often he's running it and how hard the application is that he's working in,” Caldwell said.

Operators can select the type of power source based on the job.

TB20e onboard charger.The battery can be charged fully in about 10 hours using the onboard charger with 110, 220, or 240 volts of power.TakeuchiThe battery can be charged fully in about 10 hours using the onboard charger with 110, 220, or 240 volts of power.

Caldwell noted that Takeuchi also offers an optional off-board charger that can charge the TB20e in two to four hours using 408-volt to 552-volt three-phase power. 

“This can be anywhere from 408 volts to 552 volts and can charge the machine in about four hours using three-phase power,” he said. 

A unique feature for Takeuchi is that while tethered to a power source, the TB20e can continue working.

“A lot of folks can't run while being tethered and we're able to do that,” Caldwell said.

As with many electrical options, he admits that the cost of. the TB20e is nearly double that of its diesel-powered counterpart.

“You make up those costs with fewer maintenance costs, fewer moving parts, fewer replacement parts over time, and no fuel cost,” he said. 

The Takeuchi Fleet Management (TFM) telematics system comes standard with free access throughout the machine’s two-year standard warranty period. Along with remote diagnostics and scheduled maintenance reminders, owners can geofence their machines for added security.

The TB20e is now available in North America and Takeuchi dealers are ordered the machines and should be adding them to their inventory.

“We’re committed to environmental stewardship, and this new battery-powered excavator (TB20e) is designed to help our customers meet their own sustainability goals without sacrificing the performance and reliability they deserve and expect,” Caldwell said.

Takeuchi's TB20eThe Takeuchi's TB20e is now available in North America.Takeuchi


Transcript

David Caldwell (00:06):

I'm David Caldwell, product manager with Takeuchi, and would like to introduce you to the TB20E electric hydraulic excavator. The TB20E is a fully lithium ion battery powered machine. It's a fully functional excavator, so it has all the features that our TB216 would have. The only difference is that we're not using an engine, so we have no engine oil, we have no engine oil filter, we have no coolant. So we really cut down on the filters. We cut down on the lubricants. We cut down on the moving parts. There are fewer moving parts with a battery powered machine, so there's a lot of advantages to this machine over the long term. It's ideal for working in applications where there's noise restrictions. The food industry, hospital, schools where emissions have to be kept at a minimum. The machine has a run time of approximately four to six hours, depending on the load on the machine.

(01:01):

So if we're running a hammer on it, run times may be reduced. But in typical applications where the operator may be on and off the machine quite a bit, you may get anywhere from six to eight hours of run time just depending on how often he's running it and how hard of the application is that he's working in. The customer can choose which type of power source they want to use and what's available on that job site. The battery can be charged using the onboard charger with 1-10 power, 1-20, or 2-40, and you can charge the machine fully within about 10 hours using the onboard charger. We offer an offboard charger for the machine as well.

(01:41):

This can be anywhere from 408 volts to 552 volts. This can charge the machine in about four hours fully. So we have two charging options. This offboard charger would actually use a box that you can connect to and then connect a shore power or your generator to charge the machine. Another unique feature on this machine is that while we're charging the machine, you can be tethered to the power source. So a lot of folks can't run while being tethered and we're able to do that. So it can be tethered to 1-10, 2-20, 2-40. So there are multiple power sources that can be used to charge the machine. The TB20E and the cost of the machine up front is about double of what you pay for a diesel powered machine. You make up those costs with, like I mentioned, fewer maintenance cost, fewer moving parts, fewer replacement parts over time, and no fuel cost. It is available in North America now. Our dealer network is ordering these and should be getting them into their inventory in the next few weeks.

Jordanne Waldschmidt (02:45):

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