After trialling a pair of all-electric Takeuchi TB20e mini-excavators, Falco Construction has ordered 15 of the machines, with delivery expected within the next few weeks.

Falco teamed up with to UK Power Networks for a 16-month trial of two TB20e diggers. Feedback from site teams was that performance surpassed expectations, with batteries lasting five days without re-charging. And they are back to capacity within a few hours.

The results encouraged Falco to accelerate its rollout programme.

Falco founder and managing director Brendan Griffin said: “As a key member of the operational supply chain for the UK’s utilities distributors we are acutely aware that we have a responsibility to work closely with the network operators to explore and implement ways to reduce and ultimately phase-out the industry’s carbon emissions.”

Falco currently uses more than 120 mini-excavators on street works across the south of England for clients including UK Power Networks and Thames Water. It estimates that replacing the entire fleet of diesel powered mini-excavators with electric will reduce its carbon emissions by more than 200 tonnes a year.

Falco is also conducting field trials of the Stihl TSA 300 battery powered cut-off saw as an alternative to the current standard-issue TS 410 petrol cut-off machines that its teams use daily to cut road surfaces.

The battery variant is fitted with a fast-stop brake that recuperates energy into the battery. After releasing the trigger, the wheel is stationary in less than four seconds which loads the energy from the TSA 300 back into the battery, which increases working time.

Another item of plant currently under field trial at Falco is the Instagrid One mobile battery system as a silent and emission-free alternative to the portable diesel generators.

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