Flannery Plant Hire has deployed a Cat 320 electric excavator supplied by Finning UK & Ireland, bringing the electric medium excavator into UK operation.
The Cat 320 is designed to provide power and performance comparable with its diesel equivalent while reducing noise and vibration. Its deployment has also provided an opportunity to assess the practical requirements of operating electric plant on a live construction site.
Finning and Caterpillar provided operator training during the machine handover, covering electric machinery, safety procedures, controls and the user interface. Finning also carried out a walkaround inspection, highlighting daily maintenance checks and allowing operators to familiarise themselves with the excavator.
Training included the machine’s onboard technologies, including VisionLink telematics, while operators were given guidance on charging and connection procedures. Finning worked with Flannery to assess charging requirements and gather feedback on how the machine performed in site conditions.
The deployment also involved testing charging units and connection procedures on site, highlighting the importance of integrating charging infrastructure into plant operations.
Operators were asked to record their experiences using an operator logbook and feedback booklet, covering machine performance, usability and integration with site activities.
“The initial operator feedback has been positive, confirming comparable performance to diesel machines, while also providing valuable insights into how electric equipment integrates into real jobsite conditions,” said Rory Gregory, key account manager, Finning UK & Ireland.
“Operators from Flannery have reported that the Cat 320 delivers like-for-like machine operation and hydraulic performance when compared to diesel machines.
“As the sector continues to decarbonise, projects like this demonstrate that achieving low-emission job sites requires not only advanced machines, but also a deep understanding of how those machines operate within real-world site constraints.”
Flannery continues to invest in technology from Finning as part of its sustainability targets.
“Reducing our environmental impact is a fundamental part of our business” said Patrick Flannery, chief executive officer at Flannery Plant Hire.
