Etesia UK is extending its range of electrically driven machines and presented a number of prototypes to its dealers, both from parent company Etesia SAS and fellow French manufacturer Pellenc, ahead of marketplace testing this year.
“The market is still in its infancy and we wait to see if it there will be government support in the way there has been for the motor industry,” commented Etesia UK managing director Les Malin.
“We’re confident that it will come, and we want to offer high performance electric products that will compete with their petrol equivalents.”
With an electric version of the Bahia ride-on already in the range, Etesia will increase the choice with the MLEHH, a battery version of the petrol-powered Hydro 100 which is commonly used for rugged applications such as maintaining wildflower meadows.
Powered by four suitcase batteries, run time is up to three hours, and it’s a full electric drive for the axles and, via a torque amplifier, for the mowing deck rather than ‘energy-hungry’ hydraulic drive.
The Bahia M2EL will also benefit from the common battery system.
The Etesia Attila walk behind rotary brushcutters are to be joined by flail versions, including the 75cm working width AH75F battery model, designed for rough cutting applications and using a pair of the suitcase batteries. A similar design is used for the new AL75 battery rotary model.
Mr Malin pointed out that the developments follow market trends to less frequent cuts and purchasers choosing mulching over collection.
On more familiar ground, a new Essentials range of hand tools was presented by Pellenc, featuring flexible cassette battery options including connection to the existing backpack batteries or lightweight 200 and 400Wh units.
As the name implies, these brushcutters, blowers and hedgetrimmer will be keenly priced and are designed to offer comparable performance to petrol equivalents.
Neat features include a removable nozzle on the blower models for easy storage and a choice of speeds on the brushcutters, selected via an LED screen to suit the work in hand.
Fast chargers power up the even the larger battery in 1hr 50 mins and up to eight chargers can be linked together and mounted on a rail for simultaneous charging.
The first of Etesia’s electric ventures, the ET Lander work truck range, continues to advance with hook loader, refuse collection tipper and cargo box versions now available, plus the option of electric diff lock a handy addition for operations making use of a front attachment such as a snow blade. Where the A-frame is fitted, a joystick to control the implement is standard.
Completing the circle, the ET Lander can also be used to charge a pair of the suitcase batteries.
