John Deere & National Grid Testing New E-Power Battery-Electric Backhoe

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John Deere is joint-testing its first battery-electric backhoe, known as “E-Power,” with electricity supplier National Grid. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

John Deere is joint-testing its first battery-electric backhoe with National Grid, an electricity, natural gas, and clean-energy delivery company in the Northeast U.S. Known as “E-Power,” the backhoe is in early Phase I development and will be tested under real-world conditions. It generates no emissions and less noise than a diesel machine, and should cost less to operate, the company says.

Performs Like A 310L

Deere & Company says that E-Power is designed to provide the level of performance and ease of operation as the company’s 100-horsepower (75-kilowatt), diesel-powered 310L backhoe. The 310L has a bucket tearout rating of 10,844 pounds-force (48.2 kiloNewtons) and a bucket breakout rating of 9,361 lb-f (41.6 kN).

Working Together Toward A Greener Future

“John Deere is committed to developing innovative, robustly tested, and reliable equipment for our customers, unlocking measurable value through the incorporation of smart technology solutions in our machines,” says John Deere’s global director of production systems, technology, and marketing, Jason Daly. “This project is another stepping stone in our backhoe innovation journey, intended to lead to subsequent electrification testing and design refinement.”

“National Grid is one of only two energy companies in the U.S. to add electric backhoes to their fleets,” says National Grid’s U.S. President Badar Khan. “We are excited to work with John Deere to take an important step in electrifying our company vehicles, which could be revolutionary for our industry. Decarbonizing transportation remains a challenge in the journey to net zero and we’re hopeful that bringing on more electrified heavy-duty vehicles and equipment will help us make significant progress.”

Source: Deere & Company