Product preview: Kubota’s new LXe-261

By Alistair November 1, 2022 07:54

Kubota’s new LXe-261, which has been designed to meet current environmental standards, will be available for rental and showcased at several events around Europe over the coming months.

With an increasing number of European markets tightening regulations and implementing bans on diesel vehicles, many local authorities and other public bodies are actively seeking alternatives – such as electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs). In light of this, and in line with Kubota’s Environmental Vision published in 2021 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, they have been researching, developing and trialling electric tractors.

One of the major challenges when developing electric tractors is range and operational time. For that reason, the new LXe-261 is equipped with a large-capacity battery that can provide rapid one hour charging and three to four hours of continuous run-time. This means operators will be able to quickly charge the batteries during lunch and continue working in the afternoon for optimal efficiency.

The LXe-261 also includes key features for mowing, hauling, and other green space management tasks, such as an independent PTO, a comfortable HST transmission and multiple hydraulic outlets. The specification of the LXe-261 is contained in a compact size, making this model well-suited to a range of applications.

Kubota’s new LXe-261 will be available for rental in the UK from April 2023. After its release, customer feedback will be sought in order to shape the future developments and expansions to Kubota’s eco-friendly product line-up.

Kubota Corporation is the first Japanese manufacturer to release a limited number of LXe-261 compact electric tractors in Europe, with the company actively striving towards carbon neutrality. For that reason, Kubota has been transitioning to electric, hybrid, and fuel-cell drives in an effort to decarbonise power sources and reduce CO2 emissions.

These developments represent an important strategic step for Kubota in the UK and Europe, as it aims to fulfil the requirements of core customer segments who have long invested in Kubota’s range of compact tractors, utility vehicles and ride-on mowers for park maintenance and other groundcare tasks.