In the latest move by major equipment makers to electrify their fleets, Komatsu has announced a partnership with electric battery manufacturer Proterra on an all-electric excavator. The two companies will collaborate on a proof-of-concept excavator in 2021, with an eye on moving to commercial production of fully electrified small to medium-sized excavators in 2023 or 2024.
The collaboration is the first OEM partnership for Burlingame, Calif.-based Proterra in the off-road vehicle market. The company manufactures its own fully electric transit buses, and has previously provided its battery and electric powertrain technology to other OEMs for on-road applications.