Hyundai and Cummins develop electric-powered mini excavator prototype

Cummins Inc. and Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE) have jointly developed an electric-powered mini excavator.

"As electric vehicles continue to expand their share in the automotive market, we are simultaneously seeing the electrification of commercial power systems being pursued by many as both an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable solution for construction equipment," said D. S. Kim, HCE Senior Executive Vice President & CTO. "HCE anticipates mini excavators, which operate in urban workplaces close to residential areas, will be a prime candidate to electrify to meet zero-emission and low noise requirements in the near future." 

Based on the long-term productive partnership of the companies, HCE and Cummins agreed to collaborate on the design and development of electric-powered mini excavators for this market. Powered by Cummins BM4.4E flexible battery modules (4.4 kWh each), the 3.5-ton excavator is designed to operate for a full eight-hour shift and charge in under three hours. The machine eliminates all gaseous emissions and substantially reduces noise, making it ideal for use in urban and suburban construction.

"This electric-powered mini excavator is an exciting celebration of the future of electrified construction equipment – combining the strengths of HCE's versatile excavator with Cummins' lithium ion battery solutions and machine integration expertise," said Julie Furber, executive director – Electrified Power. "Cummins is committed to pioneering the future of electrified power, and we look forward to continuing to partner with companies like HCE to design and test the industry's latest technologies." 

As urban cities around the world expand zero-emissions standards for transit vehicles to also include small and medium construction equipment, our customers are seeking electrified products in this space that match or exceed the reliability and performance of their diesel counterparts. 

The prototype machine will be used for testing to optimize the performance, prove the structural integrity and enhance the marketability.