HOLMS Attachments has made it easier for heavy equipment fleets to electrify with a new sweeper attachment that’s equipped with its own power source, freeing it from the need for a mechanical or battery (e) PTO.

Commercial trucks do more than just move people and things from place to place – special implements like street sweepers, cherry pickers, and tow beds mean they do real work, as well. But the attachments, implements, and even utility bodies being upfitted onto these trucks were largely developed for diesel platforms. They typically get juice from hydraulics or other power take-off (PTO) systems that typically take the form of a splined drive shaft powered directly by the ICE.

BEVs work differently, and have to draw on their battery power to operate these tools. That takes away which takes away from both the range and performance of the EVs in question. Adding to the complexity, some of these attachments are still mechanically driven, requiring an electrically-driven spline shaft, or “ePTO” to operate.

The new eSL Electric Sweeper attachment from HOLMS aims to solve for all that new complexity that’s emerging as electric equipment becomes more commonplace.

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“Electric equipment in general has taken a lot of different directions,” said Dan Snedecor, President and General Manager of HOLMS Attachments. “We realized, let’s not use the power from the machine, because keeping up with that will be even harder than keeping up with the different style hooks and hydraulic systems.”

Developed for the electric equipment needs of the near future, HOLMS’ eSL optimizes the uptime of your electric vehicle or equipment asset so you can complete more tasks between charging sessions.

“Our theory is this will be kind of like an electric drill that we all have at home, where you leave it plugged in until you need it. You go out, you use it, and then you put it back on the charger when you’re done,” Snedecor told Equipment Journal. “The real benefit of that will be the end users don’t need machines that have extra hydraulic functions necessarily.”

The prototype sweeper is controlled from the cab of the wheel loader via Bluetooth and is equipped with a 10 kWh, 48V li-ion battery pack that’s good for three-and-a-half hours of runtime on a single charge. HOLMS says the sweeper’s battery can be recharged in about 90 minutes.

Electrek’s Take

Bobcat was arguably the first big equipment company to start rethinking the way implements would work on electric machinery that didn’t have a reciprocating engine at its core, but the replacement of hydraulics and PTOs with servos and gears seems to be well under way.

We’re here for it.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Equipment Journal, HOLMS.

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We’ve been big fans of highly capable LSVs for a while here on Electrek, and the newest Cushman Hauler XL ELiTE electric utility vehicle keeps that trend alive with an extra-long, 68.5″ aluminum bed for even more cargo-hauling capability.

The Cushman Hauler XL ELiTE’s truck-like layout, functional dash, and familiar, car-like controls make it easier to operate than an ATV with a trailer, while its 1,200 lb. bed load capacity and 1,600-pound payload capacity (plus 1,500 lb. towing capacity) beat the pants off the classic, 00’s-era Ford Ranger pickup’s 1,140 lb. payload capacity.

The Cushman’s flatbed can be upgraded to add steel drop sides, an aluminum box bed (shown, above) and other custom upfit solutions that enable fleet operators to perfectly tailor the Hauler’s capabilities to their specific needs.

You already know how to drive it

The Hauler XL features a “twin pack” of two 56.7V, 4.2 kWh ELiTE lithium-ion batteries (8.4 kWh total) developed by Samsung SDI. The batteries are expected to be good for between four to eight hours of operation, depending on load, and are backed by a 5-year battery warranty.

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What’s more, the newest Cushman features a technology that’s commonplace in cars and trucks, but still incredibly rare in the world of UTVs: regenerative braking.

“The Hauler XL … is an industry leader in bed size, vehicle rating and bed load capacity,” says Adam Harris, vice president and general manager of Cushman and E-Z-GO. “With our five-year battery warranty and patented E-brake technology, it’s built for the most difficult jobs.”

Cushman lists the Hauler XL’s manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) at $19,989, but dealers are advertising new ones for as low as $17,398. For that money you get a day’s worth of silent, emissions-free operation and the previously-mentioned 1,200 lb. bed capacity.

Electrek’s Take

Every smart fleet manager eventually asks themselves whether they need a pickup, or a payload. When they ask that question, they’re usually trying to decide between something like a Ford Maverick and an F-150, but with vehicles like the Hauler XL ELiTE, Club Car Urban UTV, or the latest weird thing Micah Toll dredged up on Alibaba, you get the bed and the payload capacity – and you get them both for $20-30,000 less than a conventional pickup.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Cushman, via Equipment World.

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It kind of looks like the Genesis GV60. Kia’s smallest and most affordable electric SUV is set to receive a sleek new coupe variant. The Kia EV2 Coupe was spotted for the first time, giving us a clear look at how it compares to the SUV version.

Meet the Kia EV2 Coupe, a new entry-level EV

The Concept EV2 was first showcased during Kia’s EV Day in April, previewing its upcoming entry-level EV. Kia has yet to say exactly how big it will be, but it’s expected to be slightly smaller than the EV3 at 4,300 mm (169.3″) in length.

Despite its small size, Kia claims it will feel much more spaceous, thanks to a unique interior design. With a higher-sitting ride than you would expect, the EV2 even looks bigger on the road. It sort of resembles a mini EV9 with wide wheel arches and Kia’s new Tiger Face grille design.

With its official launch coming up, EV2 prototypes have been spotted driving out in public a few times now. Camouflaged, of coarse.

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We even got a sneak peek of the interior during an exclusive event at Milan Design Week in April, but the most recent sighting looks a little different.

The new Kia EV2 Coupe variant was spotted on a car carrier in Korea with a coupe-like design. A video from HealerTV provides a side by side comparison of it compared to the original SUV model.

As the reporter notes, the vehicle looks almost identical from the front and back, until it comes to the C-Pillar. From what we can see, the new coupe design has a bit of a Genesis GV60-like feel to it. The bumper and trunk area have been slightly modified to fit the coupe styling.

The new Coupe variant gains pixelated turn signals on the side mirros, giving it a more futuristic, electric look.

Unlike most of Kia’s new electric vehicles, including the regular EV2, the Coupe variant features horizontal taillights, as opposed to the new vertical design. However, that could change when it arrives in production form.

The interior will feature Kia’s new ccNC (connected car Navigation Cockpit), a panoramic curved infotainment system with dual 12.3″ driver cluster and touchscreen navigation screens.

Kia is set to launch the EV2 in Europe and “other global regions” next year. Given the love for bigger trucks and SUVs in the US, it’s not expected to make the trip overseas.

Although the company has yet to officially reveal prices, Kia’s CEO, Ho-Sung Song, told Autocar in 2023 that the company wants to launch the EV2 at around £25,000 ($32,000) in the UK. It will sit below the EV3 in Kia’;s lineup, which is priced from £32,995 ($44,800) in the UK and €35,990 ($41,600) in Europe.

What do you think of the Kia EV2 Coupe? Do you like the design better than the original modle? If it looks like the Genesis GV60, sign me up. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Check back soon for more info on the upcoming Kia EV2 and new Coupe variant. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.