Is Electric Heavy Equipment Ready for Prime Time?

Maxx_03

Maxx_03

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Has anyone here actually used electric heavy equipment on the job? Curious if it's really ready for prime time or still needs work- how’s the power, runtime, and reliability compared to diesel? Would love to hear from your experience.
 
Yeah, I’ve had some hands-on experience with electric loaders and compact excavators over the past year. Honestly, they’re getting there, especially for indoor or short-duration jobs. The torque is surprisingly solid, and they’re super quiet. But yeah, runtime can still be a bit of a pain depending on the model, you definitely have to plan your charging schedule. Not quite ready to replace diesel across the board, but for the right tasks, they’re pretty impressive.
 
I’ve been wondering the same thing! It sounds like they’re close, but I’m curious how they hold up on larger outdoor sites or in really demanding conditions. Do they struggle with anything like rough terrain or long shifts, or are they mostly good for lighter work?
 
Totally agree it’s getting close, used an electric mini excavator recently and it handled tight spots well, but yeah, runtime’s still the tradeoff. Curious if anyone’s tried them on colder sites, does the battery drain faster in the cold?
 
I get the hype around electric gear, it's quiet, low maintenance, and great for urban or indoor work, but I still think we’ve got a ways to go before it’s ready for full-time, heavy-duty use. On big outdoor sites, especially remote ones, diesel still wins for sheer uptime and fueling convenience. Charging infrastructure just isn’t there yet for a full switch. That said, I’m all for using electric where it makes sense, we just need to be real about the limitations for now. Anyone else run into issues on longer shifts or in colder weather?
 
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