VIDEO CONTENT: The world’s first fully-electric skid-steer loader, launched by Czech-based specialist company, Kovaco Electric, is now to be sold in the UK and to mark its debut Robert Llewelyn demonstrated it in his online Fully Charged show.
The 100% electric loader will operate for eight hours or more on one charge and has zero environmental impact. It also has a wide range of attachments available.
Named after the creators’ daughter, the Elise 900 can be driven manually using two in cab joysticks, or remotely via a mobile phone supplied with the machine as standard. There’s also an optional 433 Mhz two joystick control set.
Being quiet in operation it’s especially suited for operators, such as councils, working in towns and cities, and it means that the machine’s operator’s hearing is protected.
Being zero-emission also means that it is suitable for use in buildings, confined spaces and areas with poor ventilation.
With remote operation, it could also be used in ships’ cargo holds, for example, or mining.
The mobile phone application can be download from the internet and allows it to be used as a remote dashboard when operating from outside the cab, or as a conventional type dashboard when operating the machine from the cab.
The display documents the speed at which the hydraulics and forward motion are set at (four speeds), bucket self-levelling operations, battery usage and life as well as the two joystick control function when in ‘remote mode’.
Two battery types are available. One rated at 240Ah gives up to six hours of continuous operation and the second at 400 Ah will allow usage of eight hours plus. The bigger the battery the more lift capacity though and both batteries can be charged to 100% in 3.5 hours.
Depending on battery size, there are two operating weight-lifting capacities. The smaller version allows the operator to move loads of up to 900kg and the second 1400kg. As there are only electrical motors in the machine, service costs are set to a minimum and there are considerable operational cost savings claimed.
Kovaco manufactures its own attachments and has an array of boom mounted implements, including shovels, concrete mixers, muck grabs, post hole drivers, log grabs and sweepers.
It has also recently introduced the Mini Z compact tracked loader that is 100% electric and is aimed at working in tight spaces, with more than 40 different attachments.
Again with a maximum battery life of eight hours, it has a 400kg lift capacity and can also be remotely controlled by a two-stick controller with a tertiary display screen that operates within a radius of 50m.
Father and son team, Paul and Finlay Bassett, from Devon, are acting as Kovaco’s agents for UK and Ireland, and have been tasked with establishing a sales network.
