Falco Construction Adds 15 Takeuchi Electric Mini Excavators After Two-Year Trial

Falco Construction has taken delivery of 15 battery-powered mini excavators from Takeuchi, a move that signals growing confidence in electrified heavy equipment on UK job sites. The decision follows a two-year trial during which the company operated two TB20e electric excavators, evaluating whether the machines could handle the demands of real construction work.

The trial evidently answered the question convincingly. After running the two TB20e units through day-to-day tasks for two years, Falco concluded that the electric machines were fully capable of meeting its operational needs. That confidence translated directly into a larger order of 15 units, a significant step up from the pilot phase.

Mini excavators are a natural starting point for electrification in construction. Their relatively compact size and typical duty cycles make battery power more practical than it would be for larger earthmoving equipment, and they often work in urban or residential settings where diesel emissions and noise are a particular concern. For contractors, the appeal extends beyond environmental benefits to include reduced noise, lower maintenance demands associated with combustion engines, and the potential to work in emissions-sensitive zones.

The broader question raised by Falco’s order is whether the construction industry as a whole is prepared to move toward battery-powered machinery such as front end loaders, backhoes, and excavators. Real-world fleet deployments like this one serve as a practical test of that readiness, offering evidence that electric equipment can survive the rigors of active job sites rather than remaining confined to demonstration projects.

With 15 electric mini excavators now headed into service, Falco’s move adds momentum to the electrification of construction equipment, a segment that has lagged behind passenger vehicles in the shift away from diesel.