Fully electric, fully charged, fully in demand

No sooner had these newcomers arrived on the lot than they were on the road – the ZE85 all-electric compact excavators are highly sought after in the Kiesel rental fleet. In October, these zero-emission construction machines were handed over to the rental park. Together with the flexible KTEG Powertree fast-charging units and ZE19 electric mini excavators, they represent KTEG’s Zero Emission line-up for the construction site. “The electric excavators and charging units are extremely popular choices at the Kiesel rental parks throughout Germany,” says Maik Spindler, Commercial Director of Kiesel GmbH. “The zero-emission construction site and climate protection is a huge topic in the construction industry.”

An old friend with a new look

The ZE85 is no stranger to the market; the basic machine is the ZX85 from Hitachi. The special-purpose machine builders at KTEG have converted this diesel-powered compact excavator into a machine with an electric drive. “This allows emission-free and quiet operation – in terms of climate protection and for the benefit of residents as well as employees on the construction site,” says Harald Thum, Managing Director of KTEG GmbH. The excavator thus meets key requirements for urban construction that are increasingly in demand. “In addition, a quiet working environment lowers stress levels and thus improves safety on the site,” says Thum.

In terms of performance, the ZE85 is not limited by the electric drive. On the contrary. This all-electric compact excavator is in no way inferior to conventional diesel models. Precisely because of its electric drive, it delivers significantly more power as needed.

As is customary in the Kiesel rental park, the ZE85 has been equipped with a fully hydraulic quick-coupler system from OilQuick and can thus accept any type of attachment.

Excavators that are always ready to work

The batteries that power this compact excavator guarantee a runtime of up to seven hours, depending on the workload. With more than 40 ZE85s in use, experience has shown that these machines can run for an average of 5.5 hours per charge. There are also several charging options. The electric excavator can be charged to 80% capacity at the fast-charging station in 30 minutes. In other words, after a quick lunch break for both the operator and the machine, they can both get straight back to work. With the cable connected to 63A construction site power, the charging process takes around 105 minutes. If there is no time available for charging, dual operation is also possible – charging and excavating simultaneously.

Charging logistics that are simple, practical and perfect

The mobile and robust KTEG Powertree fast-charging stations in the Kiesel rental park are the icing on the cake when it comes to ensuring a carbon-neutral, emission-free construction site. With the Powertree, the special-purpose construction machinery manufacturer has simplified the charging logistics and perfected them for use on construction sites. The Powertree can be easily connected to construction site power within ten minutes, without the need for trained personnel. The charging infrastructure is then immediately ready for use. This consists of 800V charging technology that can deliver both direct and alternating current via a CCS2 interface.

“The combination of electric excavator and Powertree is essentially plug-and-play and is ready for use on site in no time – and with no need for an electrician,” explains Maik Spindler. It is robust, fits on a low-loader along with the electric excavator and features clever thermal conditioning. Heat or cold cannot harm it. “The Powertree is designed to rough it on the construction site. This mobile charging infrastructure works as advertised and immediately disarms anyone who harbours doubts about the viability of the emission-free construction site,” says Spindler. Electric cars can also be recharged at the fast-charging station. “During breaks, the electric excavator charges, and afterwards the Powertree charges. This ensures you can easily get through the working day.”
Depending on the power output, the Powertree can also operate autonomously – off-grid, i.e. without being connected to an external power supply. The batteries in the Powertree hold enough energy to run the ZE85 for about two days. This means the excavator can still be used even if construction site power is unavailable. When the excavator and Powertree have finished their work, they can be transported to the next job on the low-loader – simultaneously.

Resupply for the Kiesel rental park

Their utilisation rate at the Kiesel rental park confirms that these machines are enjoying a high level of acceptance among customers, who simply want “more” – more range and more choice. “It's now hard to imagine the line-up without the electric excavators,” says Spindler with satisfaction. Indeed, KTEG is already working flat out to expand the range. In addition to the ZE85 and the  ZE19T, the smaller ZE25 and the ZE135 will soon join the Kiesel rental fleet.