The Buzz Around Kubota’s Electric Wheel Loaders

At the Bauma Trade Fair in Munich last October, Kubota showcased two new electric compact wheeled loaders for the first time, the RT210-2e and the RT220-2e, and recently we got to see one of them at a Kubota launch event in the UK.

The Kubota RT210-2e boasts a long loader arm as standard for maximum reach (a lifting height of 2.82m) and a lifting capacity of 1,450kg. In addition, the RT220-2e has a shorter arm (a lifting height of 2.45m) with a lifting capacity of 2,054kg suited to heavy-duty loading applications. With an overall width of only 1.08m and a machine height of 2.30m, Kubota says the new wheel loaders are ideal for use on narrow and compact construction sites. 

I took the RT220-2e for a spin on location in Oxfordshire and I have to say I was very impressed with the overall performance of this compact loader. Powered by a 48V DC lithium-ion battery pack with options of 260, 390, or 520Ah capacity, the machines can be rapidly charged in 60 – 90 minutes.

Based on technology from our friends at Dutch manufacturer Tobroco Giant the machines feature two independent motors, one powering the drive system and one for the hydraulics. The one we put to the test was fitted with a 4-in-1 bucket and did everything you could ask a compact loader to do, in near silence, just a few squeals and buzzes, just fantastic for working in noise sensitive areas and producing zero carbon emissions at point of use.

Kubota UK legend Geoff Smith said, “In light duty work, you can expect at least 8 hours of operation from this machine, and there are a number of charging options available, including the rapid charger. The range of battery options on this machine gives a lot of choice to the end user, making it ideal for plant hire fleets.”

The launch of the two new Kubota machines follows the introduction of an LPG-powered mini-excavator that we saw a prototype of at Bauma in 2019 and a fully electric track dumper, giving users more options than ever before to drive down emissions. 

In the video below, my friend and colleague Peter Haddock of Content with Media talks to Geoff about the new models.

You can check these machines out for yourself on the Kubota UK stand at the Plantworx Construction Exhibition, which takes place at the East of England Showground in Peterborough 13^th – 15^th June.