
Its founding president Vincent Robin presented the E-CUBE at CES Unveiled Las Vegas, which took place on Sunday, January 5 at 17 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Shoreline Exhibit Hall. The opportunity to officially announce the launch of the ELHYTE brand and the release in 2025 of the ELH25.1, the brand's first compact mini-excavator.
- With a life cycle of 12.000 hours of use, equivalent to three average mini-excavator lifespans, the E-CUBE interchangeable battery can be reused several times. It can experience new life cycles in other mini-excavators, and can still be used after these 12.000 hours, for example as a stationary storage unit for applications such as solar production or equipment charging.
- The brand's first compact mini-excavator, the ELH25.1 is the result of the electrification of a new machine, made possible by a partnership with a renowned manufacturer. The ELH25.1 will thus be the first new machine on the market to be equipped with an interchangeable E-CUBE battery.
ELHYTE is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes delegation at CES in Las Vegas
Created in March 2022 in Viriat (01) by Vincent Robin, its founding president and Olivier Gonzalvez, the partner and CEO of the company SGC Travaux Spéciaux in Sainte-Foy-l'Argentière (69), ELHYTE is one of the 40 companies in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes delegation led by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.
A low-carbon French circular economy model
The 2,5 t compact mini excavator is currently the best-selling model on the market. With the conversion to electric power, the carbon footprint is reduced by more than 70%, and the operating costs for the customer are reduced. Thus, over the entire lifetime of a machine, the retrofit solution is the one with the lowest carbon footprint. The concept developed by ELHYTE of an interchangeable E-CUBE battery, compatible with both used machines and its new model (ELH25.1), meets the growing market demand for zero-emission equipment, suitable for low-emission zones (LEZ), while combining profitability and sustainability.
For Vincent Robin, founding president of ELHYTE: "Our business model is completely disruptive! With the E-CUBE, we are creating a new battery reuse sector. It is a low-carbon French circular economy model that combines sustainability, performance and profitability."
Removable, connected and autonomous, the E-CUBE is a battery made in France
The use of electric machines on construction sites is now restrictive and costly due to the insufficient autonomy of the machines. This requires rapid recharges, which accelerate their premature aging, and requires the electricity to be transported to the site or additional infrastructure to be installed. To meet these challenges, ELHYTE has designed and patented interchangeable battery systems that radically simplify the use of electric machines, while making their use much more economical and accessible.
Thanks to an integrated lifting device, consisting of a removable jib and an electric winch, a single operator can carry out the E-CUBE battery exchange completely autonomously and safely, and in less than 10 minutes.
“Equipped with a thermalized device to operate in extreme conditions ranging from -20°C to +60°C, the E-CUBE battery manages itself according to the outside temperature,” explains Vincent Robin. Another setting also allows E-CUBE to be pre-conditioned, so that it is at the optimal operating temperature, as soon as the machine is started.
12.000 hours of use and increased safety thanks to LFP technology
ELHYTE has opted for a thoughtful strategy by using a lithium-iron-phosphate LFP battery chemistry for its E-CUBE battery. Less polluting than other technologies, this chemistry also offers the advantage of a significantly longer lifespan.
After 12.000 hours of use, an LFP battery retains approximately 80% of its initial capacity, which allows E-CUBE to be reused as a stationary storage unit, particularly for applications such as solar production, for example.
LFP chemistry is also a safety advantage, as it is more stable and does not cause thermal runaway, unlike other battery chemistries. This positions the E-CUBE as a more reliable and secure solution.
The unique cubic shape of E-CUBE optimizes the available space. With this ingenious configuration, the retrofitted machine is not weighed down. The battery, which replaces the original combustion engine and counterweight, thus maintains the balance, center of gravity and lifting performance of the mini-excavator.
Easily transportable and equipped with standard T2 type sockets, like on cars, E-CUBE can be recharged anywhere, which eliminates the need for costly infrastructure or daily vehicle movements. With an adapter, it is also possible to recharge it directly on conventional sockets. This configuration is more economical because it encourages night-time recharges, which reduces energy costs during off-peak hours.
ELHYTE will install its future production center in Ain by the end of 2025
The E-CUBE interchangeable battery will first be reused in used mini-excavators before being able to be reused in ELHYTE mini-excavators. It is during the year 2025 that E-CUBE will equip the ELH25.1, the first mini-excavator of the ELHYTE brand.
With its headquarters in Viriat (01) and production workshops currently based in Mornant (69), ELHYTE will set up its future production center in Ain by the end of 2025.