First sight: Tadano electric GR-1000XLL EVOLT prototype

13 April 2023

Print Page

Tadano reveals electric GR-1000XLL EVOLT rough terrain crane prototype at ConExpo 2023.

A highlight of crane manufacturer Tadano’s stand at the recent ConExpo 2023 show in Las Vegas, USA, was the display of a prototype of its new electric GR-1000XLL EVOLT rough terrain crane – the world’s first battery electric rough terrain crane. Tadano announced the crane will be launched in 2024 – first in the USA and in Canada. Additional markets will then follow.

The GR-1000XLL EVOLT can travel to work sites and take care of all lifting operations there exclusively with energy supplied by its batteries making fully zero-emission operation possible.

Details regarding the crane’s specifications were limited until ConExpo adding to the sense of anticipation surrounding the unveiling. Further details will be released nearer to its official launch but here’s what we now know… 

Battery life:

A single battery charge is enough for up to nine hours of crane operation, or five hours of crane operation with a travel distance of up to 12.5 miles (20 km). This, says Tadano, is enough to cover an entire typical workday for this crane model. A regenerative braking function lengthens both running time and range.

Charging:

Charging takes just two hours with a US-COMBO CCS1 connection and about seven hours with normal charging on a three-phase 240 VAC, 100 A commercial power supply connection.

Unlimited operation with the crane plugged into a power outlet is, of course, also available.

Performance:

Performance is the same as that of its diesel-driven counterpart, the GR-1000XLL-4, putting it in the 100 USt / 90.7t class. The electric motor delivers a maximum output of 194 kW ensuring that the GR-1000XLL EVOLT has the same lifting capacity and operating speed as the diesel model. It has a top speed of 11.2 mph (18 km/h), and its dimensions are exactly the same as those of the GR-1000XLL-4.

Emissions savings:

Tadano calculates that, compared to a GR-1000XLL-4, the GR-1000XLL EVOLT will save around 2,200 gallons of diesel with a resulting reduction of more than 24 US-tons of CO2 emissions a year for an average crane usage scenario.

“This crane will make an invaluable contribution to achieving our goal of reducing the CO2 emissions from our products by 35 percent by 2030,” underscores Toshiaki Ujiie, president and CEO of Tadano.

“In our role as the Tadano Group, we are deeply aware of our social responsibility for the environment and climate. This is why we’ve committed ourselves to actively and significantly contributing to making a decarbonised society a reality with our products and manufacturing processes. With the GR-1000XXL EVOLT as an important tech demo, we’ve taken a crucial step towards that goal.”