Takeuchi announces wider release of battery-powered excavator

Qualified dealers will soon offer Takeuchi’s TB20e, the manufacturer’s first designed-and-built, battery-powered compact excavator for sale and rental at locations throughout North America.

In February 2022, Takeuchi, which has U.S. offices near Atlanta, partnered with United Rentals, Stamford, Connecticut, to introduce the first 100 units as a pilot program to gauge customer reaction and feedback.  

“The TB20e is an example of Takeuchi’s enduring legacy of innovation in the compact equipment market,” Takeuchi-US National Product Manager David Caldwell says. “We’re committed to environmental stewardship, and this new battery-powered excavator is designed to help our customers meet their own sustainability goals without sacrificing the performance and reliability they deserve and expect from Takeuchi.” 

Similar in performance to Takeuchi’s TB216 compact diesel excavator, the TB20e is powered by a lithium-ion battery that offers a continuous working range from four to eight hours, depending on the application and environment. The excavator features an onboard charger with 95-volt to 265-volt single-phase power. When operators require additional runtime, they can tether the rd chaTB20e to the onboard charger and remain operational. A faster, optional off-board can charge the TB20e in two to four hours using 408-volt to 552-volt three-phase power.

The TB20e has an operating weight of 4,255 pounds and features a standard long arm with an integrated thumb mount. It has a maximum dig depth of 7 feet, 10 inches and a maximum reach of 13 feet, 4 inches. A primary hydraulic circuit plumbed to the midarm delivers 9 gallons per minute to run a hydraulic hammer or other hydraulically driven attachments. Because the TB20e has no engine, there are fewer moving parts, no fuel filters, engine oil, oil filters or coolant, simplifying maintenance.

Inside the cab, operators will find a color, 4.3-inch high-definition, multifunction monitor, electrohydraulic joystick controls, key start, suspension seat, traditional travel and blade control levers and an electronic dial throttle. This dial throttle increases the motor speed incrementally; however, unlike a diesel engine that gets increasingly louder as its RPMs ramp up, the TB20e’s only sounds come from its motor and pumps. 

The Takeuchi Fleet Management (TFM) telematics system comes standard on the TB20e with free access throughout the machine’s two-year standard warranty period. TFM reduces downtime and controls costs by providing remote diagnostics and scheduled maintenance reminders along with customizable alert settings. It also supplies owners and operators with information about machine health, run time in hours and location. Owners can geofence their machines, protecting and securing their investments. Additional TFM coverage may be purchased separately and is included in Takeuchi’s P3 extended warranty plans. 

“The TB20e is an exciting addition to our constantly evolving line of products,” Caldwell says. “We designed the TB20e to help our dealers provide customers with an excavator that delivers outstanding features, unmatched performance, excellent serviceability and great value—along with all the unique benefits that a battery-powered machine has to offer.”