A two-machine electric excavator trial is turning into a much larger commercial deployment in London—but the useful lesson is the trial process, not simply the choice of powertrain.
UK Power Networks and Falco Construction began testing two Takeuchi TB20e electric mini excavators in 2024. On 7 October 2026, UK Power Networks announced that the original pair will be joined by 15 machines for groundworks and underground cable projects across its local electricity network.
The companies report that the machines helped crews work within urban noise limits while delivering performance comparable with the diesel equipment they were intended to replace. UK Power Networks says they can reach 80% charge in two hours and run for up to three days on one charge in the trial’s operating pattern.
Those figures should not become universal expectations. Takeuchi’s product specification describes a 24.7kWh battery providing up to eight operating hours at 65% load. Calendar days between charges and hours under load measure different things, and real results will depend on application, attachments, travel, temperature, operator technique and charging arrangements.
For plant owners, hirers and contractors considering electric equipment, the following seven checks can turn a demonstration into a defensible fleet decision.
1. Match the trial to a real duty cycle
Start with the work, not the machine’s headline range. Record digging time, tracking, idling, lifting, attachment use, transport between locations and periods when the machine is waiting for other trades.
Choose a trial that represents normal pressure: realistic ground conditions, trained operators, typical attachments and an ordinary shift. A lightly used demonstration can show that a machine works, but it cannot prove that it will cover the business’s hardest day.
Compare like with like. The electric machine should perform the same defined task as the diesel baseline, with output measured in metres excavated, loads completed or another useful unit—not just hours on the meter.
2. Survey charging before ordering machines
Charging can determine whether a deployment succeeds. Identify where each machine will finish its shift, what electrical supply is available, who controls it and whether the connection remains accessible when the site layout changes.
Takeuchi lists single-phase onboard charging and an optional three-phase off-board charger for the TB20e. That does not mean either arrangement will suit every depot or temporary site. A competent person should assess the proposed supply, protective equipment, cable route, security, weather exposure and any need for load management.
Build a contingency for an unavailable charger, power interruption or machine that finishes away from base. The fallback might be another approved charging location, a planned machine swap or recovery—not an improvised extension lead.
3. Measure useful output and energy together
Record battery state at the beginning and end of the shift alongside work completed and charging added. Include weather, attachment, operator, soil or surface condition and travel distance so unusual days can be explained.
Separate working time from elapsed time. UK Power Networks’ reported three-day interval may be entirely credible for intermittent utility excavation, while Takeuchi’s eight-hour figure describes operation at a stated load. Neither predicts a contractor’s result without knowing the duty cycle.
A simple measure such as kilowatt-hours per completed excavation, paired with time and quality, is more useful than saying the battery “lasted all day”.
4. Compare whole-life costs, not fuel alone
Include purchase or hire cost, finance, charging equipment, electrical work, energy, transport, servicing, tyres or tracks, insurance, telematics, downtime and eventual disposal. Then compare the same period and workload with the diesel alternative.
Do not assume maintenance disappears because there is no diesel engine. Hydraulic systems, undercarriage, attachments, brakes, controls and safety devices still require inspection and care. Battery warranty, capacity guarantees, diagnostic access and replacement cost also need to be understood.
Price the operational benefits where they are real. Quieter equipment may extend workable hours or reduce disruption on noise-sensitive sites, while zero exhaust emissions at the point of use may improve suitability for enclosed or closely populated locations. Treat those as site-specific benefits rather than universal cash savings.
5. Prepare operators for the differences
Electric plant may deliver power differently and produce less familiar sound. Operators need model-specific familiarisation covering start-up state, warning displays, charging, isolation, emergency procedures, towing or recovery restrictions and what to do after impact or water ingress.
Quieter operation does not remove vehicle–pedestrian risk. Review segregation, visibility, travel alarms and communication rather than assuming people will hear the machine approaching.
Collect structured feedback after each shift. Ask about control response, visibility, comfort, charging, attachment performance and any point where the machine interrupted the job. Operator acceptance matters, but it should be supported by recorded output and faults.
6. Update maintenance and isolation procedures
HSE guidance says work equipment must be suitable, maintained, inspected where necessary and used by people with adequate information, instruction and training. PUWER also requires suitable isolation from energy sources where appropriate.
An electric excavator still contains hydraulic and gravitational stored energy as well as a high-voltage battery system. Maintenance plans should identify which checks operators may complete, which work requires a competent technician and when dealer or manufacturer support is necessary.
Keep the maintenance log current, quarantine defects and make charging-equipment inspections part of the system. Safe isolation must address every relevant energy source, not only the battery.
7. Set the scale-up decision before the trial ends
Agree the pass criteria in advance. These might include minimum daily output, maximum unplanned downtime, charging availability, operator acceptance, energy cost per task and successful completion of specified site types.
Record problems as carefully as successes. A machine may suit city utility work but not remote sites without dependable power, or it may cover most duties while requiring a diesel or differently sized machine for peak demand.
Scale in stages. The Falco and UK Power Networks project moved from two trial machines to a larger deployment after gathering operational experience. Other fleets may reach a different decision, and that is the purpose of a properly designed trial.
Protect the machine without compromising it
New powertrains do not change the basics of cab management. Record condition at handover, keep controls and displays visible, and choose any seat protection for the exact operator station. A cover must not obstruct restraints, adjustment, sensors, heating, ventilation or access to controls.
Farm Packs supplies heavy-duty covers for working machinery, but compatibility should be confirmed before fitting. Cab protection can help manage everyday mud and wear; it cannot replace inspection, maintenance or an equipment-specific safety assessment.
Electric plant is moving beyond isolated demonstrations, but one successful project does not prove that every fleet should switch immediately. A useful trial identifies the right work, measures output and energy, proves charging, manages new risks and sets a clear commercial threshold before more machines are ordered.
This article provides general information and does not replace manufacturer instructions, a site-specific risk assessment, competent electrical advice, PUWER or LOLER duties, or professional maintenance guidance.
Sources
UK Power Networks: Award-winning e-digger trial drives expanded fleet decision — 7 October 2026
FleetPoint: Electric excavator trial drives 15-machine London fleet expansion — 8 October 2026
Takeuchi UK: TB20e Electric Compact Hydraulic Excavator — current product information, accessed 9 October 2026
Health and Safety Executive: PUWER overview — updated 21 November 2024
