ELECTRIC JCBs
While some rival OEMs
develop visions of electric
vehicles with radical new
architectures working in futuristic
machine ecosystems, JCB has stolen
a march on most competitors by
bringing two battery-powered
machines into full production.
Though commercially cautious
about electrification for its own sake
and squarely committed to clean
diesel’s centrality in building
tomorrow’s infrastructure, this
positions JCB among the elite OEMs
at the leading edge of the
electrification curve. The 19C-1E
electric mini-excavator and 30-19E
electric Teletruk (see boxes) both
debuted in 2019 and meet growing
demand for zero-emissions in both
urban and indoor operations. But
far from compromising on the
performance of diesel models, the
precision and instantaneous power
they provide has proved a revelation
to early adopters.
“When operators get on the
machine, they’re invariably shocked
by the 19C-1E’s excellent power
delivery,” says Bob Womersley, JCB’s
director of advanced engineering.
“But it’s the refinement that blows
everyone away. It’s five times quieter
than the diesel model and an
altogether more enjoyable and
relaxing operating experience,
because there’s no reciprocating
diesel vibration transmitted to the
operator.” Chief innovation and
growth officer Tim Burnhope likens
the 19C-1E to an executive swivel
chair next to its creakier wooden
equivalent, while emphasising the
new operational possibilities electric
working brings. “The Teletruk turns
on the spot because we can counterrotate
the motors on the front wheel,
giving an incredible turning circle
we couldn’t achieve without that
technology,” he says. “Driving is
believing and these fantastic new
products have their own DNA.”
Electrification-ready
The 19C-1E is built on the template
of JCB’s 19C-1 diesel-powered miniexcavator,
a machine already ripe for
electrification. “With an eye to the
future, we designed that machine
with provision for the diesel engine
to easily come out and the electric
motor and battery pack to go in,
iVTInternational.com November 2019 37
JCB’s 19C-1E electric
mini excavator
/iVTInternational.com
