Kubota has introduced a retrofit battery option for its diesel KX019 1.8-tonne and U27-4 2.5-tonne mini excavators.

The development enables customers to replace the standard diesel engine with a modular battery pack. Alternatively, machines can be fitted with the battery pack from new and later swapped out for a diesel engine, or vice versa.

The manufacturer, which promoted the option earlier this month at the Bauma exhibition in Munich, believes cost can be a barrier to adopting new electric machinery, and that the retrofit option offers flexibility to switch back to diesel if necessary.

Kubota says many machines typically operate for a few hours a day on sites, often less than two hours, and that the battery pack’s runtime aligns with this usage.

The company adds that while electric models are yet to dominate the market, its approach aims to provide an easier path to adopting the technology without abandoning the flexibility of existing diesel setups.

The electric retrofit is expected to roll out throughout 2025.