As a response to a decarbonized society, construction machinery manufacturers are launching electric excavators one after another into the market.


Electrification is accelerating in the field of automobiles, but it seems that construction machinery will also be electrified this year.

In the field of construction machinery, the high cost of batteries and the lack of charging infrastructure have become issues, and so far there has been little progress in electrification in Japan.



However, in response to the demand for a decarbonized society, Komatsu decided to introduce its mainstay medium-sized class electric excavator in the Japanese and European markets.



Since noise and vibration can be suppressed compared to engines, we believe there is a need for construction at night.



On the other hand, in the case of larger construction equipment, there are problems such as consuming a large amount of electricity, so the use of hydrogen engines and fuel cells is being considered, and about 3 billion yen will be spent to develop experimental facilities in Tochigi Prefecture. I'm doing it.



Shuji Yoshida, Director of the Electrification Development Center, said, "We would like to prepare not only for batteries, but also for hydrogen and biofuels in all directions according to the customer's environment."



In Europe, where environmental regulations are strict, Hitachi Construction Machinery will launch a small electric excavator this month to expand its lineup.



Electrification is accelerating in the transportation sector such as automobiles, but this year it is likely that electrification will progress in the field of construction machinery as well.