Hitachi ZX135-7EB electric excavator: key design and site-use notes for engineers
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on The Construction Index
30 Second Briefing
Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has launched the ZX135-7EB, a 13‑tonne battery-electric excavator with 198 kWh lithium-ion batteries and a dual-mode system that can also run on a CEE 400 V AC three-phase grid connection for continuous operation. Targeted at urban and residential sites with strict noise and emission limits, it offers lower external sound levels, reduced maintenance downtime, and remote monitoring of battery status and motor load. Safety features include the Aerial Angle 270° camera system, and the machine carries both Hitachi and the emerging Landcros branding ahead of the 2027 rebrand.
Technical Brief
- Electric 13-tonner is positioned as Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)’s largest battery-powered excavator to date.
- Remote monitoring includes motor load factor, enabling operators to optimise duty cycles and manage peak loads.
- Lower external sound levels are intended to extend permissible working hours under urban noise ordinances.
- Aerial Angle system delivers a 270° bird’s-eye view, improving visibility of blind spots around the upperworks.
- Charging system is described as configured to support full daily operation, rather than intermittent or partial shifts.
Our Take
The lithium-ion powered ZX135-7EB sits within a relatively small subset of our 753 Infrastructure stories where battery capacity is specified, signalling that Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) is positioning this model for clients who now benchmark machines on kWh as closely as on tonne-class.
The planned replacement of the Hitachi brand with Landcros by April 2027 overlaps with ITOCHU Corporation’s move to lift its stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery to 33.4%, suggesting corporate control and branding are being reshaped in parallel rather than sequentially.
With UK-focused pieces in our database also covering HCMUK depot consolidation and NPORS-accredited training, the ZX135-7EB launch indicates that Hitachi’s UK construction presence is being retooled on three fronts at once: footprint, operator capability, and zero-emission product offering.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
