MANITOU Group and the Kiloutou Group are partnering with Bouygues Construction Matériel to trial a ‘retrofit’ telehandler on Europe’s largest hospital construction site in Nantes, France.
The trial is underway, with the active participation of Equans France, another subsidiary of the Bouygues group. Manitou said this marks the first time this type of combustion-engine equipment, converted to electric power, is being used in a real-world construction site scenario.
The project is said to present a ‘unique opportunity’ for the three groups to test the viability of this sustainable and circular solution.
Initiated in early 2023, the partnership between Manitou Group and Kiloutou is entering its second phase with a testing period on the construction site of the new hospital of the Nantes University Hospital (CHU). This phase will continue until early May, followed by four months of testing at two other sites to assess various use cases.
This stage will allow for the gathering of valuable feedback from operators to evaluate the performance of the electrification kit. The criteria being analysed include safety, battery life, ergonomics, and charging times.
Michel Denis, president & CEO of Manitou Group, said, “This testing phase, focused on user needs and expectations, is very important to validate this electrification kit. Initial feedback from the construction site is very encouraging, with performance largely comparable to a combustion engine, combined with a significant reduction in noise and zero carbon emissions.
“We still have a few months of testing to solidify our confidence, but the project is truly promising. We share the same conviction with the Kiloutou Group, and we confidently envision the potential of retrofitting, in line with our commitment to making the circular economy a cornerstone of our CSR strategy.”
Used daily by Equans France teams, the ‘retrofit’ telehandler ensures the unloading of deliveries and the supply of materials on site. Thanks to its 100% electric motorisation, it avoids the need for diesel refuelling, thus limiting truck movements, simplifying site access logistics, and reducing pollution risks.
Feedback gathered from operators has expressed satisfaction with the charging method, driving comfort, sufficient battery life for this type of application, and performance similar to the combustion engine version.
Olivier Colleau, president of the Kiloutou Group, added, “For several years, the Kiloutou Group has been committed to contributing to the acceleration of the environmental transition. This retrofitting project, conducted with our partner Manitou Group, fully aligns with our roadmap to reduce our CO2 emissions, particularly indirect emissions, by approximately 25% by 2030.
“The full-scale test at the Nantes University Hospital Center site will help advance the project, with a view to potentially considering a wider-scale deployment, if the test results continue to prove conclusive.”
