Electric telehandler triumphs as Machine of the Year
Manitou's MLT 625 e battery-powered compact telehandler was crowned Machine of the Year at the 95th edition of the National Ploughing Championships.
Selected by the National Ploughing Association's (NPA) judging panel, the announcement took place on the Grandstand after the official launch of the event.
The NPA said that its panel "selected the 625 E against a range of criteria".
The 625 E has a number of characteristics that made it eye-catching, according to the NPA.
The judges were particularly impressed by how the machine lined up against its diesel-powered equivalent, with similar dimensions, capacities, and performance being noted.
Manitou's goal to reduce emissions and work towards slowing global warning was also a factor that played into the judging panel's decision.
The compact telehandler sector is suitable for battery-powered machinery, as work cycles are usually limited to a couple of hours daily.
Telehandler features
Manitou UK's sales support manager, James Hulme, spoke to Agriland about the MLT 625 e.
He explained: "So the MLT range or the MT range of 625 is our biggest seller in the UK and Ireland, it's the most popular machine that we do.
"We do it in a full diesel option, but we thought with people knowing the machine, we'd offer it in a full electric range as well".
He also spoke about the machine's features that led to its win.
"We have three on-board chargers, each a 3kw charger.
"(The lithium batteries) are positioned inside the middle of the chassis, so they're protected from any damage.
"People know the machine, we're already in a good place, because people like this particular machine, whether it's diesel or electric", he said.
Electric machinery
Electric machinery has become a large focus of manufacturers in recent years, as companies look to offer options with zero emissions.
One of the main stumbling blocks for electric machinery is that it generally tends to be more expensive due to the high cost of certain components.
"I would say people are still reserved mainly based on the price, but when you've got to look at the whole package and cost of ownership, it's actually quite cheap to run this over a longer period of time against diesel because of the cost of diesel at the moment.
"It's a little bit more for the electric because of the technology and electric motors, but the total cost of ownership in the long-term should be cheaper with this machine," Hulme said.
Opportunity
According to Hulme, the opportunity to charge the machine is one of the largest selling points and features of Manitou's MLT 625 e.
He said: "The biggest thing about this machine is opportunist charging.
If an operator's driving a machine for one hour, then he has an hour's break, he can plug the machine in.
"If he's got single phase (charging), he can put 10% per hour back into the machine, and if he's got three phase, he can put 25% back in the machine.
"It means that you can work for longer periods throughout the day," Hulme said.
The Manitou representative said that the goal with the machine is to get more people interested in it, as he believes that it will provide solutions for many agricultural operators.
