Tobin Plant Charges Up Electric Mini Excavator Demand

As diesel prices continue to reach record highs, Hyundai compact equipment dealer Tobin Plant is promoting the company’s electric mini excavator as a viable, economic, alternative. Based just outside Southwold, in Suffolk, Tobin is hoping to attract contractors and plant hire companies working on the nearby Sizewell C power station project, where zero emission machinery will prove particularly popular.

Tobin Plant took on the compact equipment dealership for Hyundai Construction Equipment in April 2025. The company covers Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, with a range of compact tracked excavators from 1-9 tonnes and wheeled machines from 6-10 tonnes operating weight.

The company hit the ground running, with multiple sales across the region, including a recent 15-machine deal. But business founder Simon Tobin is keen to demonstrate the potential of the electric mini to customers, ordering one of the first HX19e models in the UK, as a sign of commitment and his belief in the technology.

Hyundai’s first battery electric mini excavator, the HX19e was launched last year. Powered by a choice of 32kWh or 40kWh battery packs, the machine offers at least 10 hours of typical mini excavator operating time between charges, well above many of its competitors. An intelligent on-board charger allows users to recharge using a 110V or a 230V supply. The machine is also equipped with a REMA DIN 320 connector, that permits rapid charging at 380V, with a full top-up taking as little as 2 hours for the smaller battery.

The battery pack drives a 13kW electric motor, that in turn powers the same open-centre hydraulic system as the conventional diesel HX19A, with a similar power output The machine retains the diesel excavator’s 16kN bucket breakout force, with a slightly higher 9.4kN breakout for the dipper arm. With an operating weight of 2.3-tonne, the HX19e can easily be moved, with a choice of buckets or a breaker, on a 3.5-tonne trailer behind a 4×4, van or pick-up, making it easy to relocate between sites.

While the purchase cost is undeniably higher for the electric machine than for a comparable diesel model, lower operating costs will reduce total cost of ownership. There are for example no oil, fuel or air filters to change, no engine oil and of course, no daily diesel refill necessary. With a typical 2-tonne mini excavator using anywhere from 15-30 litres of diesel in a day, that could soon add up to a substantial operating saving. Depending on a company’s electricity supply, running costs should be considerably lower for the electric machine.

Customers can also benefit from a range of finance solutions offered through Hyundai Financial Services. Further information, eligibility criteria and applicable terms are available on the finance page of Hyundai’s website.

The possibility of 0% finance is not the only zero available with the HX19e, as there are no exhaust emissions, which will be an important consideration where customers are focussed on Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Social Governance. The machine also creates very little noise, an equally vital factor for regular urban use, particularly out of normal working hours.

The only options for the HX19e are the battery size and a choice of cab or canopy, Tobin’s machine has the 32kWh battery pack and the full cab. All models have safety valves on the main boom, dipper and dozer blade hydraulic cylinders and two-way auxiliary piping is standard for attachment use. Contractors, plant hirers, local authorities and utilities that would like to trial the machine, to find out how much it could cut their diesel bill, are welcome to call Tobin Plant for a closer look.

To find out more about Hyundai Construction Equipment, visit www.hyundai-ce.eu