Manitou is set to join a growing number of battery-electric loaders available to UK farmers, having previewed the MLT 625e at Belgium’s national agricultural show, Agribex, in December.

Key elements of the specification have yet to be released, including the lithium-ion battery capacity and output of electric motors powering the ground drive and hydraulics, but it looks as through some aspects will differ from the MT 625e construction version introduced in 2023.

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However, performance is expected to at least match the diesel-fuelled equivalent, with the quiet, zero tailpipe emissions machine slotting into the lower end of the French manufacturer’s range as a compact model measuring around 1.8m wide and 2m to the top of the cab.

Lift capacity is 2.5t max and 2t to its peak lift height of 6m, with a flow sharing hydraulic valve ensuring the operator can combine boom lift, boom extension or retraction, and attachment tip and crowd in one movement of the mouse-shaped JSM joystick.

Battery power

The power pack is understood to comprise a maintenance-free lithium-ion battery that Manitou engineers say can take on a full charge in around three-and-a-quarter hours using the onboard 9kW charger when connected to a 380V supply.

The telehandler’s hydraulics will have a 78-litre/min gear pump at its heart, while propulsion is understood to be an electric motor directly coupled to the mechanical four-wheel-drive system.

Unlike its diesel counterpart, the newcomer will feature Manitou’s ‘Harmony’ display, as installed on several models of the larger MLT NewAg range, which in addition to providing the usual vehicle status information offers 60 pop-up driver assistance panels.

LED driving and work lights will be part of the standard package.