M Group Services Plant & Fleet Solutions, a part of M Group Services, has introduced groundbreaking electric mini excavators to its plant portfolio.
The addition of the innovative JCB 19C-1 E-Tec excavators follows a series of successful trials undertaken by teams from fellow M Group Services company Morrison Utility Services working on behalf of client, Yorkshire Water. The excavator was showcased by M Group Services Plant & Fleet Solutions and Morrison Utility Services at the 2019 Yorkshire Water Sustainability Conference (16 and 17 July).
The fully electric 1.9 tonne excavator is the first of its kind to be released in the UK and has been developed to meet the demand for a zero emissions machine that can work inside buildings, tunnels and other emissions-sensitive environments, as well as close to people in urban areas.
The excavator runs on three ruggedised NMC li-ion battery packs with a total of 15 kWh capacity and is charged via a standard 230 volt domestic electricity supply, offering the same productivity levels associated with a conventional digger.
M Group Services Plant & Fleet Solutions Plant Director Adrian Hart comments: “We are continually reviewing emerging technologies that can support the safety, sustainability and operational efficiency objectives of all M Group Services businesses and their clients.
“Alternative power technology offers a sustainable, environmentally-friendly approach to the work that is carried out. In comparison to standard machines that charge at 110V and need a 12 hour charge, these machines charge at 230V and require an eight hour charge, saving 4 hours charge time. The excavators will also track and dig constantly for four hours which effectively equates to more than a full day of work as the machines are not used all day. I’m pleased to see this exciting progress and look forward to seeing the wider adoption of electric plant equipment.”
MUS Executive Director John Edwards added: “The E-Tec excavators present clear environmental and sustainability benefits for our teams, Yorkshire water and its customers. As well as offering zero emissions, they are extremely quiet, making them ideal for ‘out of hours’ works taking place in urban streets, around hospitals and close to schools. The machine also has a retractable undercarriage to enable it to negotiate confined spaces.”
M Group Services Plant & Fleet Solutions supports all M Group Services businesses including Morrison Utility Services, Dyer & Butler, Morrison Data Services and Morrison Telecom Services, providing commercially effective vehicles, plant and specialist equipment and ensuring that they are safe, compliant and fit for purpose throughout their operation.
