Battery chemistries for CONSTRUCTION EVs

NMC and LFP lithium-ion batteries find favor in different regions as OEMs move to electrify larger excavators and loaders.

The success of electric vehicles in the construction industry will largely be determined by battery prices being low enough that the total cost of ownership is cheaper than diesel alternatives. IDTechEx's new report, “Electric Vehicles in Construction 2023-2043,” shows that there is a battery price tipping point, under which it will be cheaper over the vehicle lifetime to operate an EV. Selecting the right chemistry will be imperative for getting a low enough vehicle price. So why is a clear dichotomy seen between the batteries being deployed in China compared to Europe?

Electric vehicles in construction are an emerging market. IDTechEx has built a database of more than 100 example makes and models across seven different construction-vehicle categories: mini excavators, excavators (>6 tonne), compact loaders, backhoe loaders, wheel loaders, telehandlers and mobile cranes. However, with lots of vehicles yet to be released, only 49 database entries have confirmed chemistry information.