• Electric Construction Equipment Hitachi Hitachi rolls out new 13 ton “dual mode” electric excavator that can run 24/7 Hitachci Construction Machinery NV is expanding its lineup of quiet, zero-emissions construction equipment offerings with a new, 13 ton battery electric excavator that can run 24/7 - and it’s just in time to wow the crowds at next month’s CONEXPO in Las Vegas! • Dubbed the ZX135-7EB, the new Hitachi excavator promises to deliver performance that’s as good or better than the company’s ZX135-7 diesel excavator, but in a package that’s more ideally suited to urban and residential projects with strict emissions and noise limits. • The Hitachi’s real trick, however, is its flexibility - on job sites with access to reliable grid power and a three-phase connection, the new ZX135-7EB can simply be plugged in and your crew can keep on keepin’ on long after its initial 198 kWh battery charge is depleted. • The announcement of the new machine comes just weeks before the opening of CONEXPO 2026 in Las Vegas,the construction industry’s largest industry trade show(in the West, at least),and days after the company announced that Japan’s Itochu Corp would increase its stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery from20.4% to 33.4% with an eye towards accelerating the company’s expansion in a number of key markets, including North America. • “In HCM’s key markets, notably North America, Itochu will accelerate collaboration by jointly promoting sales, rental, and finance businesses and by pursuing M&A opportunities and new business areas,” reads the official release. • “Itochu will also leverage the Itochu Group’s expertise in areas such as business management, governance, logistics, finance,and ESG to help strengthen HCM’s management foundations and increase its global competitiveness.” The transaction is expected to be given regulatory clearance by April 2026, with more details (and more product announcements) set for CONEXPO.

Article Summaries:

  • Hitachi Construction Machinery announced the ZX135‑7EB, a 13‑ton battery‑electric excavator that can operate continuously by plugging into a three‑phase grid after its 198 kWh battery depletes. The machine is positioned to match or exceed the performance of the diesel‑powered ZX135‑7 while meeting strict urban noise and emissions limits. The launch comes just before CONEXPO 2026 in Las Vegas, where Hitachi will showcase the new model. Around the same time, Itochu Corp will raise its stake in Hitachi from 20.4 % to 33.4 %, aiming to accelerate sales, rental, finance, and M&A activities in key markets, notably North America. The transaction is expected to receive regulatory approval by April 2026.

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