First ‘retrofit’ telehandler tested on a large-scale French construction site

Manitou Group, a worldwide reference in the handling, aerial work platforms, and earthmoving sectors, and the Kiloutou Group, the third-largest equipment rental company in Europe, are strengthening their commitment to the decarbonization of construction sites by partnering with Bouygues Construction Matériel to operate their first ‘retrofit’ telehandler. Thanks to this partnership, an initial trial is underway on Europe's largest hospital construction site in Nantes, with the active participation of Equans France, another subsidiary of the Bouygues group. 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. This presents 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 an unprecedented testing period, launched since the beginning of March on the construction site of the new hospital of the Nantes University Hospital (CHU) where Equans France is involved in various technical work packages, as part of a broader partnership concluded with Bouygues Construction Matériel. This phase will continue until early May, followed by four more months of testing at two other sites to assess various use cases. This crucial stage will allow the entities to gather valuable feedback from operators in order to evaluate the performance of the electrification kit. The criteria being analyzed include safety, battery life, ergonomics, and charging times.

Michel Denis, President & CEO of Manitou Group, explains: “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.”