Join the electric farm vehicle revolution now

Farmers working loaders in and around pig or poultry units could be among the first to join the electric farm vehicle revolution.

Because the availability of compact machines with zero at-source emissions for general handling and loading duties is gathering pace. Last year, JCB and Merlo unveiled batterypowered compact telescopic handlers, and now Bobcat – a name synonymous with skidsteer loaders – has taken the wraps off the industry’s first tracked compact loader with electric drives.

This introduction will likely be followed by a skid-steer wheeled version in due course, ready to compete with the Kovaco Elise loader already available at UK dealers.

The arguments in favour of battery power for compact machinery have been well rehearsed but essentially come down to favourable running costs (albeit offset by a purchase price premium), a more comfortable operator experience due to the lack of noise, and the elimination of diesel combustion fumes.

JCB’S 525-60E outwardly looks identical to its diesel-fuelled counterpart but here is a bit more to the ‘E’ version than installing a 96v lithium-ion battery in place of the 74hp fourcylinder engine.

The new model matches its 2,500kg and 6m lifting and loading performance, with quick control input responses provided by the 80-litre/min main hydraulic pump, which is powered by a 22kw electric motor.

A separate 17kw motor propels the machine via a drop-box and propeller shafts to both axles giving full-time four-wheel drive.

JCB engineers reckon the battery is good for 5,000 full charge and discharge cycles, equivalent to 10 years’ typical usage of this size of machine, before its storage capacity drops below 80% of the original value.

A 3kw on-board charging unit will refill the battery’s energy store from zero to 100% in eight hours via a 16amp cable drawing electricity from a standard single-phase 240v supply, or five hours for a 25% to 80% charge top-up.

Merlo says it started from scratch developing the eworker, which comes as the 25.5-60 with 44kw (60hp) and two-wheel drive, and the 25.5-90 (66kw (90hp) with fourwheel drive.

Lift capacity of 2,500kg and 4.8m lift height are the main credentials.

Apart from a tightturning 85deg rear-wheel steering angle, this set-up allows the battery pack to be situated low down in the middle of the machine for maximum stability.

In the cab of Kovaco’s Elise 900 skid-steer loader, operators get familiar ISO joystick controls and a Samsung mobile with an app as an instrument display.

It comes with a choice of 400Ah or 240Ah leadacid battery packs giving rated lift capacities (half the tipping load) of 400kg and 1,400kg, and running time, depending upon how hard the machine is worked, of around eight and six hours.

A lithium-ion option is also available but Kovaco favours the proven technology, of the leadacid packs, which the company reckons are good for 3,500-4,000 charge cycles.

There are two 10kw electric motors giving up to 27kw of power to propel and steer the Elise, and a third of the same size powering a 65-litre/min hydraulic pump supplying the lift and attachment cylinders.

Bobcat has chosen a different approach for its T7X compact track loader, using electric actuators in place of hydraulic cylinders.

Last year JCB and Merlo unveiled battery-powered compact telescopic handlers.