On test: JCB 403E. All electric possibilities?

Is electric power a sustainable alternative for a compact loader on a livestock farm? James Huyton put JCB’s latest all-electric 403E on-test to see how it performed.

James Huyton
Machinery and Farm Technology Specialist
clock • 9 min read
Equipped with 1,270kg lift capacity, a lift height of 2.7m and a bag lifter to boost reach, the 403E made light work of loading fertiliser into a precision drill.
Image:

Equipped with 1,270kg lift capacity, a lift height of 2.7m and a bag lifter to boost reach, the 403E made light work of loading fertiliser into a precision drill.

With diesel-powered vehicles falling under increasing environmental scrutiny, we tested JCB's latest all-electric compact loader to find out how it compares to its diesel-power counterpart. To compare...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

Login

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Register for free Join Now

 

More on Machinery

First Drive: Polaris Ranger 500 offers farmers a compact ATV alternative
Machinery

First Drive: Polaris Ranger 500 offers farmers a compact ATV alternative

Designed to offer ATV buyers greater comfort, safety and load-carrying capacity without the price tag of larger UTVs, Polaris' new Ranger 500 aims to bridge the gap between quad bikes and full-size utility vehicles.

Toby Whatley
Toby Whatley
clock 14 July 2026 • 5 min read
Opinion: Cleaner machinery is good – but who pays the bill?
Machinery

Opinion: Cleaner machinery is good – but who pays the bill?

Toby Whatley
Toby Whatley
clock 13 July 2026 • 2 min read
JCB Teletruk raises the bar for one farming enterprise
Machinery

JCB Teletruk raises the bar for one farming enterprise

Masted forklifts still dominate many palletised handling duties on farms, but falling short on reach, one farming business found the solution with a Teletruk. James Huyton reports.

James Huyton
James Huyton
clock 10 July 2026 • 5 min read