Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)
A Hitachi Premium Rental compact electric excavator has played a vital role in regenerating the town centre of Aalst, near Eindhoven in The Netherlands. The ZE85 was used by J. van Uijthoven & Zn BV for groundworks, sewerage activities, and installing utility pipes on the site near Eindhoven in autumn 2024.
To bid for the government-funded project, company owner Jurgen van Uijthoven had to demonstrate how electric excavators could be used for the work. As it was scheduled to be a two-year project, he decided to rent the ZE85 through his local Hitachi dealer, Pellen BV, and HCM Nederland.
“The team at Pellen are helpful and we have been working together for 30 years,” says Jurgen. “That’s why I went to them for an electric machine and didn’t look elsewhere.” The dealer helped him to arrange the rental contract with HCM Nederland. “It was an easy process, we got a quick response and it was conveniently arranged.”
Jurgen selected the 8.5-tonne model due to its compact size, relatively low weight, and ability to work in confined spaces. Although it can also be cable-operated, it is more practical for the operator to charge the excavator during lunch breaks and overnight on site.
A different way of working
“The performance is similar to a diesel machine and the controls are the same,” says operator Wil van Gerven, who has used Hitachi excavators for 25 years. “It is quieter than a diesel model, and you have to think about charging – it’s a different way of working. There are many different tasks on site, some heavier than others, so it depends on what you are doing.”
In addition to this model, Jurgen rented a larger ZE135 electric excavator in November 2024, to use on a six-month sewer replacement project in Bladel. The rest of his company’s Hitachi fleet, however, has been purchased from Pellen, and includes two ZXW-7 wheeled excavators, a Premium Used ZX210-6, and ZX19 and ZX38U mini excavators.
“I prefer to buy but the resale value of a machine is so important,” says Jurgen. “People don’t yet know what that value will be for electric machines, there are no used electric models available yet.
“These electric machines enable me to work on government projects, and if it’s a two-year project, and the resale value is uncertain, it doesn’t make sense for me to buy.”
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