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Welcome Back to the Digger Man Blog 2024 Season

Talking of product launches, over the festive period, our friends at Kubota revealed plans to launch a 4-tonne class electric mini excavator. The KX038-4e will be launched into the European market in spring this year, I would assume its launch will coincide with an official appearance at the Intermat show in Paris in April.

Kubota first entered the European mini excavator market as far back as 1978, and has dominated market share for more than 20 years according to independently sourced statistics.

There is a massive push towards so called carbon neutrality in construction work and Kubota are on track for this by 2050 as part of their Environmental Vision that they announced back in 2021.

As an initiative to reduce CO2 product emission, Kubota will advance development of electric, hybrid, fuel-cell, and other drives in an effort to decarbonize power sources.

Keen readers may recall that Kubota revealed a prototype electric mini excavator during Bauma 2022, the U36-4e was displayed in Munich and I assume that the KX038-4e is the final production model.

Kubota say that by deploying the Eco-Mode to adjust the motor speed, and by using other energy-saving features, the machine can work continuously for 4 hours, one would imagine that a top up during breaks would be beneficial, however, Kubota suggest it can complete a day’s work without the need of a recharge.

Kubota also say that this machine will be supplied to end users on a rental basis from local dealers.

Checkout the prototype model as displayed during Bauma 2022 below.

The Japanese manufacturer has a whole raft of new products coming down the line this year, and I for one am looking forward to seeing them and gaining some time in the seat, for Earthmovers Magazine and this blog in due course.

Have a fantastic 2024 folks!