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Tobin Plant promotes Hyundai electric mini

Hyundai compact equipment dealer Tobin Plant is promoting the HX19e electric mini excavator to contractors and plant hire companies in East Anglia, highlighting its potential to reduce operating costs as diesel prices remain high.

Based just outside Southwold, Suffolk, Tobin is particularly keen to attract customers working on the nearby Sizewell C power station project, where zero-emission machinery is expected to be in demand. The company took on the Hyundai Construction Equipment compact equipment dealership in April 2025, covering Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Its range includes tracked excavators from 1-9 tonnes and wheeled machines from 6-10 tonnes operating weight. Founder Simon Tobin has already secured several machine sales across the region, including a recent 15-machine deal. Keen to demonstrate the potential of electric equipment, he also ordered one of the first HX19e models in the UK.

Launched last year, Hyundai’s first battery-electric mini excavator is available with either a 32kWh or 40kWh battery pack. The manufacturer claims up to 10 hours of typical operating time between charges, with an on-board charger allowing connection to either a 110V or 230V supply. A REMA DIN 320 connector also enables rapid charging at 380V, with the smaller battery taking as little as two hours to recharge fully. The battery powers a 13kW electric motor, which drives the same open-centre hydraulic system used on the diesel HX19A. The HX19e retains the diesel model’s 16kN bucket breakout force, with a slightly higher 9.4kN available at the dipper arm. With an operating weight of 2.3 tonnes, the machine can be transported with buckets or a breaker on a 3.5-tonne trailer behind a suitable 4x4, van or pick-up.

Lower running costs

Although the purchase price is higher than that of a comparable diesel machine, the HX19e has fewer routine servicing requirements. There are no engine oil, fuel or air filters to replace, and operators no longer need to refuel with diesel each day. A typical 2-tonne mini excavator can consume between 15 and 30 litres of diesel during a working day, potentially offering significant savings for customers switching to electric power. Actual running costs will depend on electricity tariffs and charging arrangements. Hyundai Financial Services also offers a range of finance packages, with further information and eligibility criteria available through the manufacturer's website. The absence of exhaust emissions at the point of use is another consideration for customers working in urban environments or on projects with environmental requirements. The electric machine also produces considerably less noise than its diesel equivalent, making it suitable for work outside normal hours and in noise-sensitive locations.

Tobin's HX19e

The HX19e is available with a choice of 32kWh or 40kWh battery and either a cab or canopy. Tobin Plant’s demonstrator has the smaller battery pack and a fully enclosed cab. Safety valves are fitted to the main boom, dipper and dozer blade hydraulic cylinders, while two-way auxiliary piping is standard for attachment operation. Contractors, plant hire companies, local authorities and utilities interested in trialling the machine can contact Tobin Plant to assess its suitability for their applications and the potential savings against diesel equipment.