Experience report with the two DX165W Electric from Gebr. Harmsen in Apeldoorn
Call Apeldoorn...? Absolutely! That's where brothers Anne and Freek Harmsen of Gebr. Harmsen Loon- en Grondwerken have been working since 2024 with two DX165W Electric mobile excavators. As pioneers in emission-free working in the Apeldoorn region, we naturally wanted to know what convinced them to take this step and how they're enjoying these emission-free powerhouses. Two brothers, one vision: moving forward with emission-free working.
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This fine family business recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. It originated from a choice their mother presented around their eighteenth birthday: are you going to work outside the home, grow with the cows, or do things differently? Shortly after, a small earthmoving division was added, which the brothers saw as a great challenge. This grew into a full-fledged agricultural contracting and earthworks business. The dairy farm also expanded, now numbering ninety cows, which are milked daily with the help of a milking robot. It's safe to say: innovation is clearly in these brothers' blood.
Not one, but two electric mobile excavators. That's telling! Anne proudly explains: “Freek and I are real go-getters, always curious about new developments. Working with electricity immediately appealed to us. We wanted to experience it for ourselves and not just leave it to one of our operators. As owners, Freek and I are quicker to connect with third parties than an operator, and that's not his job. From day one, it proved to be a hit: both machines effortlessly complete a full workday, and that means a lot to us.”
Anne continues: "It soon became clear that our other operators are also perfectly capable of operating these machines. This is because we have years of experience with Doosan (now Develon) excavators, and as a company, we can also clearly explain to contractors what to look for in emission-free operation, and advise and assist them. We see this as a market that is only just beginning to develop."
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Anne laughs: "We get that question all the time: when do you need to charge? Where is the generator? But the great thing is, we don't charge at all during work. We arrive fully charged or recharge at the end of the workday. Then, with a 32-amp connection, the Powerbox 400 battery is definitely full in time the next morning. After eight hours of work, we often still have 40% battery capacity left, which I can easily drive for another two hours."
Anne continues: "Driving an earthmoving machine consumes more power, both electric and diesel excavators, than when operating. There's still a lot of ignorance, so we'll probably have to answer this question more often. But many people know better now, because they've seen us at work and experienced that it's all possible."
When asked about her favorite zero-emission job so far, Anne immediately replied: “A job in Apeldoorn. That day, my brother Freek had to replace sewer manholes throughout the city. He drove a total of 60 kilometers with the excavator, milling and lifting out six manholes, and then filling the holes with new ones. At the end of this rather demanding workday, the electric machine still had 25% capacity left. This was more than enough to drive to the charging station. And that's when you're truly proud of a machine like that. For Gebr. Harmsen, this was quite a prestigious job: showing what the machine can do and still having power left after such a day—that just feels good,” Anne says with a smile.
Anne continues: “We carefully selected these two electric excavators to ensure they remain versatile, just like the Doosan DX170W-5 diesels we previously purchased from Staad. Staad has always provided excellent advice, and these DX165W Electrics are a perfect fit for our work. They are just as powerful and reliable as the diesels, and we still enjoy using them.”
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"Freek and I went through the assembly manual to assemble these two machines," says Anne. "That works well, and then our mechanic knows what he needs to do and what he can do. Everything is predetermined, and you know what you're getting. They turned out to be two identical machines."
Anne continues: "Both machines are equipped with GPS, central lubrication, an Engcon quick hitch with an integrated grab, a pulverizer, a spike, a sieve-vibrating plate for compaction, and overpressure. Sometimes we use a special Engcon timber grab with a chainsaw module. This allows you to cut down a tree step by step, from top to bottom, without damaging the surrounding area. It works perfectly on this electric excavator. It's great that we can now offer this type of work completely emission-free."
Have you known Staad for a long time? Anne answers: “We've known Staad for several years now; they have a wealth of knowledge about earthmoving machinery. Moving to electric excavators was therefore a logical next step for us. Staad is a trusted and reliable partner for us, providing sound advice and service for both our diesel and electric excavators. We collaborate quickly and efficiently.”
Anne concludes: "The new Staad 17W electric mobile excavator clearly demonstrates that it was developed with expertise and with the operator in mind. We're closely following developments, but we're currently very satisfied with these electric excavators. Staad is clearly at the forefront of these developments and remains closely involved in servicing all our machines. That is and remains the most important thing for us."
More information about the Develon DX165W Electric mobile excavator can be found on the online product page. Here you'll find specifications, images, and a downloadable product brochure. If you have any questions or are interested in this or any of the other Staad electric earthmoving machines or our Develon earthmoving machines, please feel free to contact one of our sales representatives, whose contact details are also listed on these product pages.
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