Mecalac e12: a 100%-electric excavator for urban building sites

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In 2018, Mecalac is offering the first 100%-electric machine, which meets the three key requirements for the urban building sites of today and tomorrow: range, performance, and compactness. It is a technological response inspired by the constantly evolving people, terrain, and possibilities of urban building sites. With the e12, Mecalac is entering a new chapter of its history, by making available an electric excavator. This landmark is being recognized by the range being the first to be allocated the letter “e”: “e” for electric, “e” for ecosystem, “e” for emits nothing and “e” for emblematic.

The electric version of the 12MTX fits perfectly within Mecalac’s philosophy of moving towards urban building sites that are ever-more compact, high-performance and environmentally friendly. The architecture of the internal combustion version of the 12MTX makes it the natural forerunner of the electric version, so the emplacement for an internal combustion engine now houses LiFePO4 battery technology – lithium iron phosphate for three times as many charge cycles – that combine a service life, comfortably better than classic batteries, with complete safety: no risk of fires and no risk of battery fluid leaks.

“Any electric engine must rise to three major challenges: range, performance, and compactness. The Mecalac e12 is the first 100%-electric excavator that does not compromise on any of those three criteria. The key to our machine’s range and performance is in its very architecture. The power source – which is separate from the upper structure – means we can install a record capacity of 146kW.h, which results in an unrivaled range of 8h”, explains Patrick Brehmer, Head of Design and Product Management.

With a structure designed for the city from the outset and two independently operating electric motors, one powering the excavation mechanism and one for movement, the Mecalac e12 is destined to become a fixture in plant fleets for urban settings. Apart from its performance and range, its 100% electric transmission offers unrivaled tractive force as soon as the engine is started, with brake energy regeneration. The electric motors’ incredible power density makes it possible to keep it extremely compact; they also require no maintenance. What is more, the e12 has a charging station that can be used to recharge it on site in six to seven hours. The e12 can work all day without needing to recharge its batteries: a range of eight hours at the highest power output.

The Mecalac e12 means less vibration, less noise pollution, less maintenance (no more filters, no more oil, etc.), less risk of on-site accidents, less spent on maintenance, and absolutely no CO2 or particulate emissions. Unlike a standard wheeled excavator, the e12 works all day, racking up more time in action than it does standing around every day. Its articulated chassis means it can move easily around any site, and this agility also plays a role in its overall performance.
With the time for diesels to be banned in major conurbations already announced and fixed, and with increasingly dense urban development and the cramped spaces that go hand-in-hand with that, the new Mecalac e12’s perfect blend of architecture and technology is paving the way for safer, cleaner and more efficient urban building sites.

The figures:
– 100% electric
– 146kW.h capacity
– 8 hours’ range
– 6-7 hours to recharge the batteries
– 3X longer service life than classic batteries
– 2 electric motors
– 0 CO2 and particulate emissions