John Deere and National Grid to Joint Test Electric Backhoe Concept

During the testing period, National Grid will be able to expand its use of electric equipment on jobsites.
During the testing period, National Grid will be able to expand its use of electric equipment on jobsites.

John Deere has teamed up with National Grid to joint test an electric backhoe concept to meet the demands of customers who want to enhance machine reliability while lowering daily operating costs and overall emissions. Deere has already developed a battery-powered, electric vehicle design, referred to as E-Power. It will target the ease of operation and performance level of the diesel-powered 100 horsepower 310L Backhoe.

“We are excited to work with National Grid, a leader in promoting clean energy solutions, to test the John Deere electric backhoe design in real-world conditions,” said Jason Daly, global director, production systems, technology and marketing, John Deere. “John Deere is committed to developing innovative, robustly tested, and reliable equipment for our customers, unlocking measurable value through the incorporation of smart technology solutions in our machines. This project is another stepping stone in our backhoe innovation journey, intended to lead to subsequent electrification testing and design refinement.”

During the testing period, National Grid will be able to expand its use of electric equipment on jobsites. The company specializes in delivering electricity, natural gas, and clean energy to more than 20 million people across the northwestern United States. Currently, Deere is in the early Phase 1 development stage with its electric backhoe.

“National Grid is one of only two energy companies in the US to add electric backhoes to their fleets,” said Badar Khan, President, National Grid, US. “We are excited to work with John Deere to take an important step in electrifying our company vehicles, which could be revolutionary for our industry. Decarbonizing transportation remains a challenge in the journey to net-zero, and we’re hopeful that bringing on more electrified heavy-duty vehicles and equipment will help us make significant progress.”

More information on John Deere’s backhoe lineup can be found by visiting www.JohnDeere.com.