Takeuchi made a splash at ConExpo 2017 with its e240 electric excavator, then one of the few electric machines seen by show attendees.
The company brought back an electric excavator to the 2020 show, but this time with a different concept. This year’s show machine, the 4,277-pound TB220e, is completely designed and built by Takeuchi, while the 2017 machine was more of a retrofit, with the electric components installed by vendor Green Machine after the diesel engine was pulled.
“This is a fully electric machine with a lithium-ion battery,” explains Lee Padgett, Takeuchi product manager.
While no specs are official until the planned product launch this fall, Padgett did fill Equipment World in on what users can expect when it does go into production.
There are two charging options for the TB220e. The first is a 480 3-phase charging pack that comes with the machine and acts as a rapid charger, charging the machine in about four hours. The machine also has a 220-volt onboard charger for overnight charges.
The charging options give users more jobsite versatility, plus address customer concerns about getting a full-day’s run time. Padgett says, “You can always find 220-volt on a jobsite but not always 480 3-phase. This machine will run for about eight hours, or full day, depending on how it’s used.”
The battery will last for 3,000 charges, Padgett says, “so it probably will outlast the machine.”
