China’s off-road mobile machinery sector is a critical but often overlooked mobile emission source. Often operating in densely populated areas and construction hotspots, off-road construction machinery poses serious environmental and health risks to frontline workers and surrounding communities, while also contributing to climate change through black carbon and carbon dioxide emissions. As cities strive to meet air quality goals and carbon reduction targets, the transition to zero-emission construction machinery has emerged as a key strategy. In recent years, leading Chinese manufacturers have developed a broad portfolio of zero-emission construction machinery across equipment categories, sizes, and power segments.
To better understand how zero-emission construction machinery performs in practice and showcase early successes that could inspire broader adoption, this casebook draws on extensive on-the-ground research across six Chinese cities. Our team systematically studied the use of zero-emission machinery at a variety of industrial and construction sites. We engaged with equipment operators, site managers, rental firms, and manufacturers to gather first-hand insights into the deployment of electric off-road machinery in real working conditions. By observing daily operations, documenting charging practices, collecting technical specifications, and analyzing cost data, we built a first-of-its-kind, evidence-based profile of the real-world performance of zero-emission construction machinery. The casebook highlights representative cases of excavators, loaders, and rotary drilling rigs, and offers detailed evaluations of their operational viability, energy savings, and financial implications.