Lifting Electric: Battery-Powered Compact Telehandlers Are on the Rise in North America
Need to move materials up high in a tight space? Bring on a compact telehandler. This small, nimble machine can load, lift and place materials all around a jobsite and fit into places larger telehandlers simply cannot. It’s all those abilities that make this machine perfect for electrification.
“Telehandlers are good candidates for electrification for a couple of reasons,” explains Steve Kiskunas, product manager — telescopic handlers at Manitou. “The first is size. Compact telehandlers, particularly, can be operated completely under electric power. This is particularly useful in applications where you may drive that compact telehandler into a building, a parking garage or other structure where workers may be working in a confined area and emissions are not allowed. The second reason is the general nature of the work. Very rarely are telehandlers working in a production level environment where they are working at full throttle all day. The more use-as-needed nature of telehandlers means that you can likely go for a whole day or longer without even having to think about recharging.”
Why would manufacturers opt to electrify these machines? Let’s examine some advantages of battery-powered compact telehandlers.
Quiet, Emissions-Free Operation
The most notable advantage of electric equipment is its emissions-free operation. The lack of emissions allows operators to work indoors in occupied buildings or barns where diesel equipment cannot.
Less noise is another plus. Lee Tice, JCB product manager, says electric equipment offers a quieter alternative so crews can work around schools, hospitals, residential areas, museums, libraries, organic farms, horses and livestock with minimal disturbance. Nighttime operation even becomes an option in noise-restricted areas. Communication among workers on a jobsite is also improved thanks to a quieter machine.
Operating in the Cold? JLG’s Daliborka Ribeiro Suggests a Battery Heater.
Before purchasing, customers should know if battery heaters are available for the electric machine to guarantee consistent performance even during cold-weather operation. When battery temperature falls below the designated threshold, battery heaters will activate to ensure batteries reach the required temperatures.
“Homebuilding crews appreciate the quiet operation of a battery electric telehandler,” adds Tice. “A typical residential site may have two or three trades and anywhere from six to 10 people all working at the same time, and they all talk to each other a lot. It’s very different from an earthmoving site. A quiet machine eliminates the need to shout out instructions, measurements and the like.”
One important note: With such a quiet machine, operators should pay special attention to other people and machines on the site in case they do not hear the telehandler.
Less Maintenance
Another perk of battery-powered equipment is less maintenance. Since there’s no engine to maintain, owners can enjoy fewer service points. However, special care should be taken to maintain the electric telehandler and its new technology.
“As with any piece of machinery, there are certain repairs — particularly related to the electric motor — that should only be performed by trained and certified service technicians,” says Kiskunas. “This isn’t a new concept, but it is a different technology that will require dealer service departments to train on. Having said that — the maintenance and upkeep are quite similar to any diesel engine machine. Keep it greased, check the hydraulic fluid and remember to plug it in at designated recharging times.”
Smooth Moves
Although electric telehandlers perform similarly to diesel machines, operators will enjoy smoother and faster movements while using the battery-powered units. Less vibration is a welcome feature for users who operate all day.
“The only difference operators may notice is that battery powered machines are a bit quicker in acceleration and the movement of the boom and attachment,” says Tice. “This is due to the fact that the engine does not need to rev up to create full power for the hydraulic pump. Electrical power engages instantaneously.”
Lower TOC
The higher upfront cost of an electric machine is considered a disadvantage, but manufacturers emphasize that potential owners should look at the machine’s total ownership cost.
emissions-free operation.
“There is a premium of 35 to 40 percent on the initial purchase price,” says Tice. “But in terms of operating costs, the electricity to charge the batteries is a small fraction of the cost of diesel while doing the same amount of work. And remember that for many compact machines you will pay almost as much for the fuel over five years as you will for the machine itself. So, there is a huge savings there.”
Less maintenance is another cost-cutter over the life of the machine. Daliborka Ribeiro, director of product management — telehandlers at JLG, points out that since lithium-ion batteries and electric motors are virtually maintenance-free, owners do not have to spend time or money changing engine oil, replacing engine parts and lugging fuel to a jobsite.
On the Market
Electrification is a huge trend in the construction equipment industry right now, and it’s making its way into the compact telehandler space. Here are some of the models on the market…
The Snorkel SR5719E electric compact telehandler is powered by 80V 300Ah lithium-ion batteries and can operate continuously between charges for up to six hours. The SR5719E delivers a maximum lifting capacity of 5,732 lbs and a maximum lift height of up to 19 ft, maneuvering with four-wheel steer and three steering modes (front, crab and coordinated). Built compact at just 6 ft, 2 in. wide, the SR5719E offers low noise and zero emissions, making it suitable for indoor use or for outdoor use in low-emissions zones such as city centers. The on-board single-phase charger provides a full charge overnight, while off-board charger options are available for fast-charging capabilities, up to two and a half hours for a complete charge. The SR5719E delivers a reduction of up to 60 percent in operating costs over the diesel equivalent. Bonus: A universal skid steer attachment plate is available.
JCB’s 505-20E electric compact telehandler features a 20-ft lift height, 5,500 lbs of lift capacity, a maximum forward reach of 11 ft and a universal skid steer hitch. Part of JCB’s six-machine E-TEC fleet, the 505-20E can be charged on regular 120V or 240V household current. Tice explains that on a full charge, the 505-20E will run for a full day of work or three and a half hours continuously. The machine’s regenerative braking energy helps keep the battery supplied with power during use.
“On JCB’s electric telehandler we have built in safety features that will warn you that your battery is low in charge when reaching from 10 to 5 percent,” says Tice. “Depleting batteries to zero percent is the most harmful act you can commit to your machine. If it occurs often, you will start to see an inconsistent charge during your workday and will lead you to replacing battery cells. Also, when charging your machine, we have a standard LED light that will translate if the machine is charging or if charging is complete. When charging is complete, the machine will automatically stop taking charge to the battery cells. This is an advantage as your batteries will not overcharge and result in damage if you do leave it charging through the weekend or vacation.”
The electric Manitou MT 625 e telehandler doesn’t skip a beat when compared to its diesel counterpart. This high-performance machine has a height of 6 ft, 3 in., width of 5 ft, 9 in., zero emissions and low overall machine noise — making it the perfect match for confined jobsites and indoor applications, says Kiskunas. Operators will appreciate a lift capacity of 5,500 lbs and a maximum lift height of 19 ft, 2 in. while using the MT 625 e.
“The compact Manitou MT 625 e is easy to operate, reduces maintenance by 56 percent and drastically decreases the total cost of ownership for the user,” says Kiskunas. “It has a lithium-ion battery that is charged through an on-board charger that is capable of being charged by single- or three-phase AC power. You can order the machine with an additional battery to extend runtimes without charging.”
Manitou’s Steve Kiskunas Says It’s Time for Electric Telehandlers
While electrification has been talked about for many years now, we are seeing an uptick in adoption, acceptance and demand. Like any new technology — there is a period of time in which fleet managers take a wait-and-see approach. However, we believe that is coming to an end, and you will see more electrified machines being put to work across North America as people embrace the noise reduction and emissions reduction for both indoor and outdoor work, as well as the long-term maintenance benefits.
Aerial lift manufacturer JLG is set to release an electric compact telehandler in the near future. This will join the company’s electric machine collection which already includes battery-powered scissor lifts and boom lifts.
“As jobsites evolve, our customers need machines that evolve with them,” says Ribeiro. “Advancements that increase operator confidence and productivity and drive safety improvements on jobsites will continue to influence product development in both engine- and electric-powered machines. There are always jobs to be done, and at JLG, we believe that we have a responsibility to be more than an equipment manufacturing company. We are committed to understanding our customers’ jobsite challenges and partnering with them to develop solutions that deliver tangible benefits to their businesses.”
Pam Kleineke is managing editor of Compact Equipment.
