Here’s what I found out in Texas about John Deere’s electric backhoe
I traveled to Austin to check out John Deere’s second-gen 310 X-Tier E-Power electric backhoe – here’s what I learned.
At 186 years old, John Deere is one of the oldest industrial companies in the US. It plans to deliver more than 20 construction and forestry electric and hybrid-electric models by 2026. It also says it’s going to deliver a fully autonomous, battery-powered electric agricultural tractor.
Deere’s prototype is one of the first electric backhoes in the US. Case Construction Equipment debuted the first fully electric backhoe loader, the Case 580 EV, in March 2020, and it’s on the market. (Case also debuted two new electric mini excavators at ConExpo 2023 last month that are also commercially available.)
In 2021, John Deere started to test and showcase the first-gen 310 X-Tier backhoe. And in December 2021, it acquired majority ownership of Kreisel Electric in Austria, which develops high-voltage battery systems with patented immersion cooling technology. The folks at John Deere assert that Kreisel’s batteries provide conventional batteries with 20% more life. Kreisel’s website states that its battery’s “unique low temperature spread (<1°C) throughout the module ensures that all cells are within the same temperature range, resulting in prolonged battery life and higher performance.”
Jon Gilbeck, John Deere’s global leader in marketing, strategy, and electrification, told me that there are “roughly three prototypes” of the second-gen 310 X-Tier E-Power electric backhoe being tested in the field; National Grid has been working with John Deere to test them since 2021.
Gilbeck said that the backhoe will be one of the first of the company’s EV machines that will commercialize before 2026.
I got to check out a backhoe prototype on John Deere’s test farm near Austin last week. We watched the hydraulic arm and the loading shovel in action next to a diesel backhoe performing the same actions.
The 310 X-Tier E-Power electric backhoe can do everything the diesel backhoe can do, but better –John Deere says it has 10-15% more performance. It’s quiet – it’s got a decibel level of 75 or less. Construction sites are dangerous, so noise reduction will reduce accidents as it will be easier for workers to communicate. It will cut noise pollution in urban areas and also, most importantly, slash emissions overall.
John Deere won’t yet provide the specs on its backhoe prototype, but it says it’s considering a 120 kWh battery, equivalent to 100 hp diesel. The machine is in the 14-foot digging-depth category, like the 310 diesel series the company sells.
John Deere says its 310 X-Tier’s “run time” is an “8-12 hour day” without having to recharge. (Backhoes are operated intermittently, so perhaps run time would better be measured in miles.)
The 310 X-Tier has two circuits and three motors for HVAC, propulsion, and hydraulic. It’s able to separate its transmission torque from hydraulic, and it doesn’t have torque ratings yet.
As for charging, John Deere says it’s going to offer both mobile and installed EV charging stations for construction sites. (We saw an example of its installed charger, but it wasn’t live.) The backhoe is also compatible with any EV charging station. We all laughed at the thought of a backhoe pulling up at, say, an Electrify America charging station next to a Chevy Bolt, but hey, cool.
I look forward to seeing what John Deere debuts in the next three years – and watching the company make the transition to electrification as rapidly as possible.
Read more: Here’s how John Deere’s electric robots can plant 6,600 seeds in 3 seconds
Main photo: John Deere; Embedded photos: Michelle Lewis
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With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
CarNewsChina posted pictures from a Weibo user that reportedly show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra exiting the storied Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. According to a Chinese blogger going by 西米露在博洛尼亚 (which seems to translate to “Sago Dessert in Bologna”), the prancing horse brand is actively benchmarking the Chinese hypercar for its own upcoming EV.
The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing, and the development of their next-generation electric platform.
Yet another Chinese auto blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, claims that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi headquarters last year, allegedly to discuss the joint development of next-generation high-performance EV motors.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made its debut last year, promising 1,548 hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph times, and a top speed well over 200 mph – all at a price lower than a Tesla Model S Plaid or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car sold out almost immediately after it was unveiled, racking up some 50,000 orders almost overnight.
The new electric benchmark
In the automotive world, “benchmarking” is a process in which car companies systematically tear down each others’ competitive products to compare everything from sound insulation, vehicle ride and handling, component materials, and even manufacturing methods against their own or against other industry leaders. The goal is to evaluate performance, cost, quality, and other key metrics, effectively figuring out “where they stand” in the market.
If Ferrari really did buy an SU7 to benchmark it against their own upcoming electric supercar, it’s more than just a curiosity – it could mean that the highest tiers of automotive innovation have shifted from West to East. Maybe forever.
Featured image via Xiaomi; sources throughout the post.
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We’re finally getting our first teases of the upgraded 2027 Chevy Bolt, built on GM’s battery/motor platform formerly known as Ultium. So far, so good for the vehicle, which will be revealed later this Fall.
Chevy took to social media today to tease the 2027 Chevy Bolt, saying, “You asked, we listened. The #ChevyBolt is back and better than ever. More this fall. 👀”
Chevy ended the original Bolt program with the 2023 model, which was loved by a loyal group of customers (including myself). Some of the major gripes, including charging speed and rear brake lights, already look to be addressed. Also, a new more aggressive fascia is debuting.
Electrek’s take
GM has done an incredible job keeping the 2027 Bolt under wraps. It will be the first GM vehicle with a native NACS port after the Cadillac Optiq-V, which we spied in Seattle last week.
Hopefully, the new Bolt will have improved charging speeds over and above the 54kW that previous Bolts adhered to. One possible downgrade is that the old Bolt’s amazing wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system will likely be replaced by GM’s move to Android’s built-in experience. For a few years, the Chevy Bolt was the most affordable long-range EV, and it won our 2022 Electrek car of the year for its versatility and price.
I would, of course, like to see the new Bolt as a hot hatchback, but GM CEO Mary Barra has hinted that it will likely take more of the EUV’s SUV form factor. Things like AWD options, SuperCruise, pricing, power and range are yet to be revealed, but stay tuned to Electrek for the latest on Bolt developments.
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On today’s test-acular episode of Quick Charge, it’s a new day and a new Chinese ADAS test for Tesla to conquer – but this one’s got a LOT more pedestrian carnage to parse through! We’ve also got some great e-bike deals from Retrospec and a bladder-busting Hyundai.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec – the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure! To that end, we’ve got a pair of Retrospec e-bike reviews followed up by the updated Hyundai IONIQ 6 with nearly 350 miles of range from its updated long-range battery. With that, Hyundai now has the longest range Korean EV on the market, while Texas is adding megawatts of battery energy storage to beef up its troubled grid, and it’s doing so faster and cheaper than ever before.
Plus: Quick Charge listeners can get an extra 10% off the price of their next awesome e-bike by using code ELECTREK10 at retrospec.com!
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