As there seem to be a few Takeuchi fans on here - I wondered if anyone knew what became of the electric mini-excavator they were planning?
There was a prototype unveiled at SED the year before last - based on the TB125 I think - but I've not heard any more about it since.
Anyone?
I can see the uses for an electric excavator - indoor work for starters! We had to dig out a skittle alley a couple of years back - 200mm down in readniess for a concrete slab.
A Takeuchi TB 108 chugging away in there wasn't the most pleasant experience, even with a rubber exhaust extraction tube onto the exhaust to the outside air! Still, it was better than hand digging it.
Check out a recent post on my Digger blog about electric excavators, I can see a future for these inovative machines .
http://www.contractjournal.com/blogs/digger-blog/2008/12/electric_mini_excavators_-_sha.html
Interesting adaption. I wonder JCB haven't looked at doing that themselves?
Another company that does mini electric excavators is Brokk. They specialise in remoted controlled minis for use on demolition jobs indoors. Generally they are used with breakers, pulverisers, etc, though digging buckets can be attached. Ideal for interior work in confined spaces.
They were at SED last year in the Pavillion. Nifty little machines.