Downstream Take on Electric Construction Vehicles

April 17, 2026

Ryan Gehm

Electrification was not a particularly hot topic at CONEXPO 2026 in early March. Of course, there was a smattering of electric construction vehicle debuts in Las Vegas, particularly in the mini and compact segments, but the overall tone on EVs was somewhat muted. Connectivity and artificial intelligence, not shockingly, were the tech topics du jour. Caterpillar (see April issue of Truck & Off-Highway Engineering magazine ) and Bobcat both announced AI “companions” that will assist operators and others in completing tasks more safely and efficiently.

But back to electrification for now. New Holland Construction was one of the equipment manufacturers debuting new electric machines at CONEXPO: the E25X electric mini excavator and the C314X electric mini track loader. These models join the company’s first EV, the E15X mini excavator, and the ML22X small articulated loader, bringing its EV lineup to four total.

Both new machines are powered by a 102-volt lithium-ion battery, with a 32.2-kWh gross capacity on the E25X and 23.5 kWh for the C314X. They can recharge in approximately eight to nine hours. Runtime for the E25X is stated at four to eight hours depending on application and hydraulic demand.

“We designed the E25X and C314X so customers don’t have to rethink their workflow,” said Jake Sickels, product marketing manager for New Holland Construction North America. “These solutions eliminate obstacles related to emissions and noise that contractors often face, enabling them to take on a broader range of projects.”

Applications for the new EVs include retail and interior construction, plumbing, utility installation, landscaping and even demolition, Sickels noted. Customers can order the C314X now and secure the machine in Q3 of 2026. Ordering for the E25X opens in Q2 with expected delivery in Q4 2026.

SAE Media Group often talks with the folks responsible for developing and marketing such vehicles – not so much the people tasked with selling or renting them nor those who consider incorporating them in their real-world operations. New Holland’s CONEXPO press conference provided that opportunity, making available Britnee Heckman, sales and marketing director for Scott Equipment, a multi-location dealership in Southern California for sales, rentals and service, as well as Alex Slowey of Slowey Farms in central Wisconsin.

Runtime for the new E25X electric mini excavator is four to eight hours depending on application and hydraulic demand. (SAE/Ryan Gehm)

I asked each of them how the market for EVs looks and, in the case of Slowey’s dairy farm, if he’d ever consider buying one. “I’d be open to it,” Slowey said. “I don’t think in every aspect of our farm it would work. I’ve got a skid steer that runs 20 hours a day. Is that [EV] going to be able to stay working for 20 hours without having to be charged? There is a little downtime in between like cleaning alleys, but I don’t know if it’d be long enough to charge it up to the necessary amount.”

“From a dealership perspective, I think that’s our job,” Heckman interjected. “How do we support the customer figuring out what that looks like in their business? The logistics that come behind that.”

“There is a place in our marketplace for [electric machines] at the moment,” she added, citing interest from indoor contractors and some municipalities. “Infrastructure for larger fleet capacity is probably the main concern. I’m not sure if Southern California’s grid is fully prepared for what that entails.”

“But from a compact equipment standpoint, we have had some success in demos with our electric machines,” Heckman continued. “We had customers that were excited, we had team members that were really excited about it. I’m just not quite sure if that’s translating into the next step – the purchase.”

Ah, that all-important next step…

The online Battery & Electrification Summit , hosted by Battery & Electrification Technology magazine and SAE International, is now available on demand, offering expert insights on innovation and emerging applications for design engineers and managers.