Honda and Komatsu team up for electric mini excavator

Manufacturers Honda Motor Co. and Komatsu have partnered up on a development project, that eventually aims to create a system whereby users can share batteries across different types of construction equipment.

Hiroyuki Ogawa, President and CEO of Komatsu, and Honda’s President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe signed an agreement that will initially see Komatsu’s PC01 micro excavator model fitted with Honda’s Mobile Power Pack (MPP) battery and an electrified power unit (eGX).

The deal will, in time, also see the companies explore the “electrification of other micro and mini electric excavators of up to the 1-ton class” and explore the MPP-based electrification “a variety of equipment used on civil engineering and construction sites, as well as overseas business launches”.

Described by Komatsu as the world’s smallest model, the PC01 has an operating weight of 380kg and can be transported on a mini pickup truck...Sign in to continue reading.