Hitachi responds positively towards the growing need for reducing carbon footprints of construction equipment via emission free equipment. , Hitachi Construction Machinery for Europe unveiled four prototype battery-powered mini excavators at Bauma set to be released into markets in 2023.
The Bauma con-expo went hush when Hitachi unleashed 4 of their latest electric powered excavators at the expo when the ZX85US6EB, ZX23U6EB, ZX55U6EB, and ZX1357EB were unveiled to the world. The machines are powered by lithium ion batteries or alternatively powered by live sockets via cable connection was Hitachi’s direct response to the growing concerns about the environment. The unveiling coincided with Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe 50th anniversary. At the expo, apart from the ZX55U which was the only machine that was developed entirely by Hitachi, Japan, the three other electric powered machines which were the result of a joint collaboration between KTEG (Germany) and Hitachi were also introduced. The ZX85US6EB, ZX23U6EB, and the ZX1357EB will all be released into the global market in 2023 after they make their way into European markets. The new machines have all been developed and design within the configurations of their predecessors with significant additions that classify these four machines as high end construction machinery at the moment.
According to a senior Hitachi senior executive, “all four models feature exceptional manoeuvrability attributed to their short tail swing element which was inherited from the ZX20U-5B diesel powered model that is currently in Japanese markets”. There are no compromises on performance compared to diesel-powered machines.” The development of the prototype ZX23U6EB was accomplished through a unique collaboration between Hitachi and the European Advanced Construction Products GmbH which is committed towards delivering sustainable solutions which are in line with Hitachi’s intentions to expand battery-powered products in not just Europe, but throughout the world in coming years.
Hitachi Skid Steer Developments
On a different front, Hitachi’s established alliance with Fiat in the development and manufacturing of Skid Steers with rated operating capacities ranging from 630 KGs all the way to 1100 KGs came to an end in the early 2000s as it was terminated by both Hitachi and Fiat. Hitachi subsequently pursued an independent strategy that was focused on Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The move was attributed to Hitachi’s intention to gain foothold in European markets predominantly. The joint venture which was established in 1986 that came to an end in the early 2000s saw Fiat moving their expertise into CASE Corporation which sees most of Fiat’s technology being injected into CASE skid steers. Skid steer loaders, especially within the compact categories are quickly becoming the preferred machines as their capacity to perform a wide variety of tasks has increased rivalling their excavator counterparts within the scope of urban construction projects. This is attributed to the practicality of these machines that are currently equipped and able to accommodate extended hydraulic attachments and in some instances have a higher level of applications. Most of these skid steers are usually available on hire at very affordable rates from construction equipment rental companies and are generally cheaper compared to excavator hire. Although Kubota and Komatsu skid steers are popular with the ‘skid steer for hire’ niche, other manufacturers are rapidly catching up to the market leading duo (Komatsu and Kubota) and Hitachi is undoubtedly among them who are gaining momentum along with Caterpillar, CASE, and Takeuchi. However, each manufacturer is committed more towards their respective regions which according to construction business analysts is a good thing as it prevents market saturation which could have a negative impact on the bottom lines of construction equipment rental companies.
