Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Japanese manufacturer Komatsu has unveiled a fully electric (non-hydraulic drive) remote-controlled mini excavator, which represents the company’s next-generation concept machine for the future.

This battery-powered, 3-t-class machine offers a bucket capacity of 0.09 cu m and rear-swing radius of 970 mm. It measures 4,750 mm long, 1,740 mm wide and 1,685 mm high.

The machine is designed to lay the foundations for commercialisation of fully electric construction equipment of the future, said Komatsu. It incorporates new technologies, including lithium-ion batteries and electric cylinders which utilise no hydraulics.

Thanks to its full-electric power, the eco-friendly mini excavator generates no exhaust gas, noise or heat, and provides a maintenance-free operation since there is no hydraulic equipment. It is suitable for use in confined and dangerous sites, such as for indoor demolition and rescue work from disasters.

In addition, the machine does not require an operator. A vehicle controller and operational device are connected via wireless LAN, enabling remote control operations under any work environment.

In 2020, Komatsu launched its PC30E-5 electric mini excavators (hydraulic drive) in Japan, and also plans to introduce electric mini excavators (hydraulic drive) after equipping them with the lithium-ion battery system used in the concept machine for Europe in 2022. Komatsu said it is working to not only accelerate the speed of commercialising construction equipment with little environmental impact, but also further anchor them into the future.