Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
At this year’s World of Concrete Event in Las Vegas, Honda launched its first battery-powered motor. The Honda eGX 72V brushless electric motor is designed to be incorporated into OEM power equipment products for both indoor and outdoor use. The company now offers a complete line of general-purpose engines for industrial, commercial, rental industry, and consumer applications.
Honda specifically gave the eGX brushless motor the same cubic footprint as their Honda GX engine. They also made sure the driveshaft position lined up. Since the Honda eGX has the same drive shaft position as the Honda GX engine, manufacturers can swap them out without any serious modification to convert gas-powered equipment into a battery-powered equivalent.
Because Honda designed the eGX brushless electric motor as an OEM product, other manufacturers can have easy entry into the battery-powered market without investing the funding and engineering required to develop and design their own motors.
Initially, the Honda eGX motor has found some use in construction equipment, such as rammers, power trowels, and vibratory plate compactors. Future applications will include hydraulic power units and compressors. Honda has also started testing in a number of other commercial applications.
Honda also tells us that, while they have designed the motor for OEM applications, they’ve also designed the eGX to meet the needs of power equipment owners and equipment operators. The eGX will fit into any existing GX100 and GX120 applications, offering reliable battery power that is comparable to the power output of the gas-powered counterparts. However, in this case, you get reduced vibration and noise. And, as you’d expect, no muss or fuss with fuel, oil, or AC power.
Honda makes two versions of the eGX, including a single speed model and a 3-speed model. Both use the same 72V lithium-ion battery and 2kW class brushless motor. The single-speed Honda GXE 2.0H runs at 3600 RPM and features an integrated-type motor.
The GXE 2.0S features a separate-type 2kW brushless motor and supports three speeds at 300, 3300, and 3600 RPM.
Honda designed the 3-phase brushless motor for maximum performance. They’ve borrowed some of the R&D that’s made their generator line such a success, tying in the effective insulation and coiling technology that increases efficiency. It runs between 3,000 and 3,600 RPM and features both internal and external fans to dissipate heat. The motor’s power drive unit incorporates a silicone seal and condenser to resist dust, water, and vibration.
Both the Honda eGX Brushless Motor and 72V 10Ah battery pack are sealed. This protects all of the internal components from dust and water. The electric motor gives you the opportunity for expanded work hours while minimizing the downtime and servicing needs that come with gas engines. Because of the reduced noise and lack of emissions, the eGX can transition easily to indoor use.
Honda designed the eGX electric motor and batteries for extended operation. The batteries swap out quickly, and the Honda quick charger can get a depleted battery back to 80% in 55 minutes. We did note that the recommended charging temperatures fell into a more indoor-friendly 41 to 86 degrees F (5 to 30 degrees C).
Today’s environment is shifting supply and demand toward zero-emission products. But reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions is only part of the picture: battery-powered power products must meet rugged performance standards required by owners while making the equipment easier for operators to use. With this new, advanced electrified power unit, Honda is supporting OEMs in commercial markets in their efforts to meet increasingly stringent regulatory standards while expanding their portfolios with strategic developments such as developing more battery-powered products, enhancing service offerings, [and] collaboration and partnerships with customers and suppliers.
When he doesn't have his hands on tools himself, Chris is often the man behind the camera lens making the rest of the team look good. In his free time, you might find Chris with his nose jammed in a book, or tearing out his remaining hair while watching Liverpool FC. He enjoys his faith, family, friends, and the Oxford comma.
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