A landscaper has become one of the first customers in the world to power a JCB digger with solar energy.
Colin Ash set up Ash Landscaping in Congleton, Cheshire almost 30 years ago and is set to put his shiny new JCB electric model to work in gardens and driveways across the county.
Powering the machine – a JCB 8008E electric micro excavator made 21 miles away at JCB’s factory in Cheadle, Staffordshire – will be energy harnessed from solar panels on the roof of his car port at home.
Purchasing the electric model also means he can start work just after sunrise in urban areas – as the machine is as quiet as a mouse thanks to no noise from a diesel engine. JCB launched the 8008E electric micro machine this year and Colin has snapped up the first one to be made from dealer Gunn JCB.
Ash Landscaping Managing Director Colin Ash said: “I’m a long-time electric vehicle driver and run my cars on solar energy generated from solar panels on the roof of the car port at my home. Adding the new JCB 8008E CTS was a perfect next step and I can plug it in next to the car and charge both overnight. We’ve also added a battery storage system which we can charge economically on a low-cost rate in the early hours.
“On site there’s no fuel to manage, no risk of diesel spills, and far less risk assessment & method statement paperwork. Plus, the early starts in urban or residential areas are no problem now as there’s no engine noise. With eco mode I have plenty of power and easily get a full 8-hour day’s work. I’ve not run the battery flat once.”
The JCB 8008E uses a 9.9kWh lithium-ion battery to power the hydraulic system, delivering a full typical working day on a single charge. Weighing less than a tonne and with a compact footprint make it ideal for working in tight spaces or on soft ground. With noise levels of just 66dB for the operator and no fumes from the tailpipe, it’s ideal for use in indoor, urban or on sensitive sites.
Colin added: “For planting and preparing ground for turf and hedgerows, I don’t want heavy machinery compacting the soil. The 8008E CTS is the ideal size, and it fits through tight gateways – perfect for our landscaping and driveway work. I’ve been running JCB machines for nearly three decades. They’re British-built, reliable and always my go-to choice.”
Established in 1996, Ash Landscaping offers a full range of professional landscaping services from domestic driveways and patios to large commercial projects. The company works across Cheshire and beyond and is a trusted contractor for Roe Developments and Clowes Developments, providing planting, turfing and soft landscaping on large retail parks and housing developments nationwide. It runs a solar powered, electric plant and vehicle fleet to meet the site requirements of major developers and eco-driven customers.
Colin Ash started out offering gardening services when he left school before qualifying as an HGV Class 1 driver. It was in this role, driving a low-loader for a Cheshire-based plant hire firm, that he first learned to operate plant and equipment. Later working in the road surfacing sector, each stage of his career paved the way perfectly for setting up his landscaping business.
