Electric-powered equipment has been adjacent to construction for some time. Electric machines are a common sight in mining, while indoor loading and material-handling equipment have long relied on battery power. But construction sites haven’t seen much electric equipment aside from the odd forklift or scissor lift. On-site power can be spotty, and recharging batteries can be a pain.

But that’s changing as some major manufacturers seize upon recent advances in lithium-ion battery technology and gradual improvements in the drivetrains and motors used in on-road electric vehicles. There are still major hurdles to bringing battery power to larger machines, but some companies are taking a chance on electrifying construction equipment.