Electric dreams on the Takeuchi stand

by Nick Drew | Wed 04 May 2016

Electric dreams on the Takeuchi stand

On the Takeuchi stand at Bauma visitors came across an electric powered conversion of its current largest excavator the TB1140.

I found details on this to be a bit sketchy but from what I understand this latest development is part of project Suncar, which has seen cars developed by students of a degree program in Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering at ETH University in Zurich, Switzerland. Having worked on projects to transform engine powered cars to electric, during 2013-2014 the team worked on developing an electric drive excavator and their chosen guinea pig was the Japanese built Takeuchi.

According to a spokesman, this was the first time an attempt had been made to convert this size of machine to electric power. The students were told to consider some key points for this project, the fact that an electric excavator is a lot quieter in operation, enabling it to work in urban and environmentally sensitive areas. It also emits no exhaust fumes and electricity is considered a lot cheaper than conventional fuel.

A total of 18 students from ETH Zurich, the NTB and HSLU worked on this project. Check out this video of the early prototype TB1140E in action. [youtube width="725" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T3omVhTKG8[/youtube] Other items on the Takeuchi stand included a new prototype model of a 15 tonne class machine the TB2150 which one would assume will take the place of the TB1140, this stylish new model is expected to go in to full production in 2017.

The TB230 and TB240 models which were introduced at Intermat last year were also presented. I was disappointed to learn that my mini excavator of choice, the TB235 looks to have been phased out of the mini excavator line up since the introduction of these smart looking new machines.

The Takeuchi TB240 was displayed with the increasingly popular flair mower attachment.

Takeuchi have come a long way in the UK since those days when they were first "badged" up as a Priestman Mini Mustang, today for many they are considered to be the ultimate mini excavator!

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