In the latest move by major equipment makers to electrify their fleets, Komatsu has announced a partnership with electric battery manufacturer Proterra on an all-electric excavator. The two companies will collaborate on a proof-of-concept excavator in 2021, with an eye on moving to commercial production of fully electrified small to medium-sized excavators in 2023 or 2024.

The collaboration is the first OEM partnership for Burlingame, Calif.-based Proterra in the off-road vehicle market. The company manufactures its own fully electric transit buses, and has previously provided its battery and electric powertrain technology to other OEMs for on-road applications.

Proterra战略合作伙伴关系副总裁克莱尔·麦康奈尔（Claire McConnell）说：“我们为自己的运输巴士和其他商用车设计的电池都有很棒的应用。”“它们高度坚固，循环寿命很高，并且比普通乘用车的行驶更大。”

In a press statement, Seiichi Fuchita, president of Komatsu’s development division said: “I am excited about the collaboration with Proterra, by which Komatsu will drive the electrification of construction equipment."

Komatsu has set the goal of reducing its CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 from 2010 levels. The equipment manufacturer has previously introduced hybrid machines with reduced emissions and offers a electric mini-excavator for the Japanese rental market, but these battery-powered excavators are its first major foray into full-size, electric heavy equipment.

“We’ve publicly stated that we’re working with Komatsu on batteries, but they are definitely working hand-in-hand with us to integrate the system,” says Proterra’s McConnell. Komatsu has not disclosed what size class the battery-powered excavator will be used in, but McConnell says Proterra’s battery system is notable for its modular design, which allows for customization of power output and voltage, as well as battery size and shape.

“这将与我们在运输巴士中使用的东西有所不同。我相信我们的电池非常适合这一点 - 我们可以得到右尺寸的电池组，以满足[Komatsu]动力传动系统的需求。”她补充说。

Proterra制造商在加利福尼亚州的电池电量，但麦康奈尔表示，由于其基本的业务指定，该公司在过去一年中基本上能够避免与Covid-19相关的生产中断。她预计，尽管流行不断，Proterra将能够满足Komatsu合作伙伴关系的生产需求。