By equipping a high capacity lithium ion battery and integrating a cooling system for the battery and electric components for the PC138E-11, Komatsu states that it has achieved long operation time while reducing the rear end swing radius. The company says it is working with a variety of customers, with different machine operating conditions and power supply sources, and envisage that this machine will be used as a rental machine so that they should be able to experience its environmental friendliness and safety. In this manner, Komatsu will accumulate customer feedback and knowledge and promote the formation of the electrification market.

Komatsu positioned FY2023 as the first year for the market introduction of electrified construction equipment, and the release of the PC138E-11 is the fourth step in that direction. Hydraulic excavators are the most versatile type of construction equipment, and the 13t class is used in a wide range of jobsites and applications. By capitalising on the launch of this machine, Komatsu states that it is set to develop a broad range of new customer needs and establish the market for electric construction equipment.

At Intermat 2024, Komatsu Europe will present the PC138E-11 excavator with a ‘Smart Construction 3D’ machine guidance kit, said to be a simple and flexible technological enhancement now available for a broad range of Komatsu machines. The kit provides an accessible way to add 2D and 3D machine guidance and can be customised with various options that allow the kit to better accommodate each customer's machine configurations and operating conditions.