Honda goes electric with li-ion powered motor for heavy construction use

In a world where batteries matter more than ever, Honda Engines announced a 14-pound lithium-ion battery-powered motor called the Honda eGX for use in commercial power equipment products.

It is built to be rugged when mounted on vibrator plate compactors,  rammers and other equipment used in the construction industry, the company announced on Tuesday at the 2021 World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas.

Honda also promised quiet operation, reduced vibration and quick charging with a brushless DC motor. The motor and battery pack are dust and water resistant for use in the harshest locales, indoors and outdoors. The battery pack has a two-year warranty while the motor has a three-year warranty.

Honda said its eGX can be interchanged with a Honda GX internal combustion engine on some outdoor power equipment. 

Pricing was not announced. The eGX goes on sale to original equipment makers in late summer.

The lithium-ion battery was assembled in series and parallel and emits no greenhouse gases. Because the motor is quiet, it can be used in residential areas for extended periods, Honda said. The battery can be recharged to 80% in just more than an hour.

It runs at up to 3600 rpm with a 2- kilowatt motor with internal and external cooling fans. Rubber mounts are used on the power drive and motor as well as the battery pack to absorb vibration.

Honda first entered the battery powered lawn and garden product market in April 2017. The company has authored a 2030 corporate vision, which includes a commitment to “lead the effort to realize a carbon-free society.”

The eGX is aligned with that corporate vision and represents the Honda R&D strategy to “balance technological innovation, performance and environmental sustainability in Honda products and operations,” said William Walton, vice president of Honda Power Equipment, in a statement.

He noted that today’s businesses are shifting supply and demand toward zero emission products.  Honda is also developing more battery powered products, he added.

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