Hitachi launches 13-ton electric excavator for CONEXPO
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- Hitachi Construction Machinery launched the ZX135-7EB, a 13-ton battery-electric excavator with a 198 kWh battery that can be plugged into three-phase grid power for continuous operation beyond its initial charge.
- The new machine delivers performance equal to or better than Hitachi's diesel ZX135-7 while producing zero emissions, positioning it for urban and residential projects with strict noise and emissions limits.
- Itochu Corp is increasing its stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery from 20.4% to 33.4%, with the official release citing accelerated collaboration on sales, rental, finance, and M&A in key markets, notably North America.
- Itochu will also leverage its expertise in business management, governance, logistics, finance, and ESG to strengthen HCM's management foundations and global competitiveness, per the companies' release.
- The ZX135-7EB will debut at CONEXPO 2026 in Las Vegas, described as the construction industry's largest trade show in the West.
- The Itochu stake-increase transaction is expected to receive regulatory clearance by April 2026, with additional product announcements also slated for CONEXPO.
Why it matters: The grid-pluggable design directly addresses battery runtime anxiety — the core limitation of electric construction equipment — by letting crews tap job-site power for unlimited operation. Itochu's stake jump from 20.4% to 33.4%, with an explicit North American focus, backs a serious commercial push into emissions-restricted urban markets where diesel incumbents currently dominate.
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