Bobcat Electric E10e Excavator Excels in Inner City Work

Modern Machinery Fleet

Willemsen has a state-of-the-art fleet of machinery and vehicles. The company formed the fleet with the focus on reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, as most of the work it carries out is in urban areas. It is also why several of the machines have a limited axle load of a maximum of two tonnes and are equipped with tracking systems, with which the journeys and fuel consumption can be tracked.

Justin Willemsen is a strong supporter of the use of electric equipment and tools. “We believe that we should actively contribute to making construction more sustainable, but the use of electric equipment also provides commercial benefits. When registering for the tendering of government projects  with electric equipment, you have a significant advantage.”

Utrecht Precursor to Emission-Free 

The municipality of Utrecht, is one of the trailblazers in the Netherlands when it comes to environmental and emissions policy. An environmental zone has now been set up in Utrecht, in which diesel vehicles are prohibited. The municipality of Utrecht wants to achieve a completely emission-free city center by 2030 at the latest.

The municipality conducted research into the causes of air pollution in the city and the mobile equipment ended in second place. Construction companies cannot simply replace older equipment; all the more so as zero-emission machines are considerably more expensive than traditional diesel-powered machines. According to Justin Willemsen, a solution could be for the municipality to work with contractors for longer periods of time, so that they have time to recoup their investments in replacing 'old' equipment with zero-emission machines.

Depreciation and Residual Value

Justin Willemsen is convinced that Willemsen Infra's investments in electric equipment will bear fruit. “If you have a zero-emission fleet, you are at the front of the queue as a supplier.” 

“To be honest, we don't have a complete picture of the exact operating costs of electric machines yet,” says Justin Willemsen, “because we can't say much about depreciation and residual value yet. Of course we save on fuel costs and oil, but I think that mainly the limited maintenance of electric machines will be the deciding factor. We don't know for sure yet, but as an entrepreneur you also have to be prepared to stick your neck out.”

The Bobcat E10e Electric Mini-Excavator

The residents of Utrecht often react with surprise to the fact that the  Bobcat E10e excavator makes virtually no noise. As the E10e mini-excavator is light and small, it is not only easy to transport, but also very suitable for working inside buildings, on difficult terrain, in inaccessible places and in narrow streets. Thanks to the zero tail swing, the E10e also causes almost no traffic problems.