Our colleague Wayne Grayson, Editor in Chief of ForConstructionPros.com, got a look at John Deere's prototype electric backhoe loader, the the 310 X-Tier which it unveiled at The Utility Expo 2021.
John Deere announced development of this machine in January. But The Utility Expo was the first time anyone has had a chance to see and hear this extremely quiet backhoe up close. It is also the first time we’ve seen this model name: 310 X. The X is the highest tier in John Deere’s new performance tiering nomenclature for its machines. It is used to denote hybrid and electric machines and represents Deere’s latest and greatest technology. And beyond the fact that this is a battery-powered machine, the other interesting aspect of the machine's development is that it's being tested with the help of National Grid, one of the world's largest utility companies, serving 20 million+ customers throughout the northeast U.S. Which makes The Utility Expo a natural fit for this machine’s debut.
As of right now, the 310 X on display at the show is just a prototype. But it is the prototype. This is the machine that made its way onto several National Grid job sites throughout the spring and summer of this year.
