Electrifying demolition and earthworks with Kovaco Electric

Electric machines continue to grow in popularity as more brands launch more models, but for one business, Kovaco Electric disrupting the market with electric skid steers began in late 2019. This was when it started production in its Czech Republic facility, with the first demonstration units entering the UK market in 2020 as Kovaco Electric's Finlay Bassett started establishing a dealer network.

Fast forward to today, and one of those dealers, Kovaco UK, run by Cameron Peters, has broken into the Demolition and Earthworks sector. It has sold machines to The Erith Group and Aitch Demolition's plant hire business, Boo Boo Hire.  

I visited both businesses onsite with their newly delivered machines to find out more. They included the two different Elise 900 Skid steer loader models. The first comes with a standard 270Ah battery, offering 5.5 hours of operation and 40hp.

The second model comes with a larger 400Ah capacity battery with 8.5 hours operating time and 52.3hp. Both models also come with numerous attachments and options, including extra guarding solid tyres and remote control. 

As part of the electric journey to bring equipment into more traditional diesel fleets, there are many decisions surrounding the costs and infrastructure associated with adopting an all-electric model. I was keen to find out how Erith Group's Plant Director, Shaun Bean, had made this decision, what changes needed to be made to accommodate the equipment and its impact on the business.

Shaun: "Before we make any fleet purchase decision, we spend a lot of time evaluating the machine and any technologies that it comes with. And the Kovaco Electric models were no different. The first step for me was to get in the seat myself and operate the demo machine to see if it could perform the mainly loading tasks, we would need it for. I also put it through a typical full shift using our training ground to simulate real-world tasks.

"Of course, with electric models, you want to know that the quoted operating hours are also achievable. So, we measured this ourselves with the larger model, and it performed just as the team had told us. Because we will be using these machines to replace an existing diesel fleet in applications like top-down tower block demolition, I also wanted to know how we could charge them in situ.

"The challenge here was all about getting power to the machine. As with any demolition project, the original 240V supply is stripped out and isolated at the source before demolition starts. Of course, we then add lighting to the structure on a 110V circuit. With this in mind, we worked with the Kovaco team to test 110v as a charging option and overnight, even the larger battery could be filled.

"This meant we could lift the skid steer into the building with no need to take it out until it had finished working. Typically, this machine is used to clean up the rubble floor by floor, tipping it into the lift shaft as this is the safest way to operate. 

"Being fully electric also has advantages for us in this application as you remove the need for additional air extraction units to handle the diesel emissions. You also remove the need for manual handling of fuel up to the floor and any associated spillage clean up when filling the tank. In addition, with the electric model, there is only one filter in the machine and far fewer parts to both maintain and repair.

"Our fitter's only job is to top up the lead-acid battery with distilled water now and again, and this is a simple task. As part of the package, we have also opted for additional machine protection with a plate at the rear of the machine protecting the battery, roof guarding and ram guards. 

"This makes it more of a demolition spec machine which is important to us, and another reason for buying the model, which is based around a kit of parts.

"This is also an interesting concept for a demolition machine when it comes to the cost of repairs, as you can simply unbolt components and replace them. Again, with the demo model, I unbolted some of the machine to see what level of strength was added to the inner structure. This was important to me as demolition machines of this size can suffer from a concertina effect if they collide with another object.

"If this happens, the frame or connections plates can also be damaged, thus adding to repair costs. It was a nice surprise to see how robust the machine was when I unbolted the section, as this means we will potentially be able to save on repair costs.

"All of these elements come into the equation of going electric, but it's how an electric machine can change how you do a job that is equally important, as you can remove cost by removing tasks.

"For example, we have opted for the remote control solution on our models with a robust handheld unit capable of operating the machine up to 50 metres away. This removes the need to put an operator into the machine, making it safer to perform some tasks. It also reduces the people plant interface.

"Add this to the elimination of fuel handling from bowser to machine, air extraction, the reduction of maintenance, and you have a new cleaner, greener and cost effective way of working. Doing the sums, it certainly adds up. It is also better for both the working environment and the wider environment, whilst allowing us to operate safely with zero emissions at the point of use."

Testing the unit out at its recycling facility near Dartford, the handheld remote control solution was certainly impressive. And even the phone that comes with the machine as its control unit can be used to remotely operate it, which is perfect for that odd occasion you need to be out of the cab.

There are various different modes that can be accessed from the phone to set speed and other functions for varying tasks. But what really surprised me was the speed of the skid steer. On the full speed mode, it can travel up to 7.5mph.

Where The Erith Group concentrated on replacing its existing diesel fleet with the electric models, Aitch Demolition and Boo Boo Plant Hire have invested in the electric for different reasons. It has purchased the small and large battery pack versions of the Elise 900, with the large model on solid tyres with demo specification. It has added a further two 400kg load capacity Mini Z pedestrian remote-controlled loaders that can also be operated using the handheld remote control.

Talking about its fleet purchase onsite, MD Harold Allen said: "The way we look at things is that just because you can afford to pollute, doesn't mean to say you should. So, we're trying to be at the forefront of adopting new electric equipment by getting in there first and making sure we understand how to make it work. I believe if we all try and do our bit, then we can hopefully reduce global warming.

"From both a safety and commercial point of view, I like the zero emissions at the point of use and the fact the machines can be fully remote controlled. Practically this means for some jobs we can take the driver out of the cab and remove the need for a banksman.

"This saves money whilst operating the machine safely, which is a win win situation. The other commercial benefit is that the machine is idling and ticking over with a skid steer, typically 40% of the time. This means every hour, we are paying a service charge and also devaluing the machine. Of course, we are also consuming more fuel, and as we move from red to white diesel, this becomes more costly. The electric machine only uses fuel when operational, and we can also work indoors.

"From our perspective, when we are not using the machines for our own jobs, we will also be offering them to our Boo Boo Plant Hire customers so they can try out the machines as well and see how they work."

Having talked to both leaders, it is clear that electric can play a role in even the harshest of environments, and when you do the sums, it's not just all about the purchase price, fuel, and cost of ownership. It can completely change the way of working whilst taking out those additional costs associated with diesel. 

Kovaco Electric at a glance - Technology meets muscle. 

The Elise 900 is joystick controlled and has an operating weight of 3300kg and a maximum boom height of 3.4m. It's fitted with a quick coupler that enables the use of over 40 different attachments for agriculture, construction and woodcutting applications, from buckets to forks, dozer blades, grapples and augers. 

With the larger battery version, the machine goes from a lift capacity of 900kg to an impressive 1400kg, with the battery pack powering three electric motors, delivering a total power output of 27kW.

From a technology perspective, the Elise 900 comes with GPS tracking and a telemetry system that monitors performance and allows for downloadable new software updates. These are uploaded to the machine, and accessed through a Blackview Android smartphone which doubles up as an onboard cradle mounted cab monitor.

It can also be removed and used as a remote-control unit for the machine within an operating radius of 15m. If you want to use your own smartphone, Kovaco also allows users to download its App to control the machine features. 

These include four drive speed options, selectable to suit the application and site conditions. You can also adjust the response of the hydraulics on the loader arms and bucket function through the simple dashboard, which also highlights the machine's battery status bar and hours meter. 

Along the bottom of the screen, there are touch buttons for the road and work lights, windscreen wipers and other functions like the self-levelling bucket function and flashing beacon.