John Deere and National Grid unveil electric backhoe concept

The battery-powered 310X is comparable to the 310L in both power and efficiency, but the electric model is 25% quieter

John Deere and utility contractor National Grid unveiled the 310X electric backhoe concept at The Utility Expo, showcasing a battery-powered electric vehicle designed to match the performance level of the company’s 14,669-lb, 100-hp 310L diesel-powered backhoe.

The two companies jointly tested the electric backhoe concept - referred to as E-Power - intended to provide substantially lower daily operating costs, lower job site noise, enhanced machine reliability and zero tailpipe emissions.

According to Deere, the 310X is comparable to the 310L in both power and efficiency, but the electric model is 25% quieter. Attachments between the two machines are interchangeable.

“We are excited to work with National Grid, a leader in promoting clean energy solutions, to test the John Deere electric backhoe design in real-world conditions,” said Jason Daly, global director, production systems, technology and marketing, John Deere.

“John Deere is committed to developing innovative, robustly tested, and reliable equipment for our customers, unlocking measurable value through the incorporation of smart technology solutions in our machines. This project is another stepping stone in our backhoe innovation journey, intended to lead to subsequent electrification testing and design refinement,” he said.

Partnering with Deere in the testing phase enabled National Grid to expand its use of electric equipment on job sites, reaffirming its commitment to leading the industry in the use of clean and resilient energy solutions.

“National Grid is one of only two energy companies in the U.S. to add electric backhoes to their fleets,” said Badar Khan, president, National Grid, U.S. “We are excited to work with John Deere to take an important step in electrifying our company vehicles, which could be revolutionary for our industry. Decarbonizing transportation remains a challenge in the journey to net zero and we’re hopeful that bringing on more electrified heavy-duty vehicles and equipment will help us make significant progress.”