Industry professionals gathered at Plumpton College for VoltWorx26, where some of the latest electric machinery, commercial vehicles and autonomous groundcare technology were showcased alongside expert discussions on fleet decarbonisation, renewable energy and sustainable operations.
Held on 28 July, the event brought together representatives from local authorities, education, professional sport, groundcare, agriculture, construction and fleet management.
Organised in partnership between Crawfords Group and Plumpton College and powered by Kress, the event was created to help organisations move beyond broad sustainability ambitions and consider the practical steps involved in adopting electric machinery, vehicles, robotics and supporting energy infrastructure.
A major focus was the opportunity for visitors to see and discuss a diverse selection of electric machines and vehicles representing the changing requirements of agriculture, groundcare, construction and commercial fleet operations.
Amongst the kit on show was the Fendt e107 V Vario, a fully electric specialist tractor; the Manitou MT 625 e, a compact, fully electric telehandler; and the Isuzu D-Max EV, the all-electric, four-wheel-drive pick-up.
For construction and estate-management applications, the Komatsu PC33E-6 electric mini excavator was demonstrated. Whilst autonomous technology was represented by the Kress Voyager KR800E commercial robotic mower.
Organisers say that together, the exhibits demonstrated that electrification is no longer limited to smaller handheld products or passenger vehicles. Electric technology, they said, is increasingly being developed for tractors, telehandlers, excavators, commercial vehicles, pick-ups and large-scale professional mowing operations.
Alongside the machinery and vehicle displays, the keynote programme brought together specialists with direct experience of sustainability, transport decarbonisation and renewable energy. Speakers included Tom Harris, sustainability manager at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Mark Smith, transport decarbonisation consultant at Energy Saving Trust, and Oliver Tucker, director of Green Bulb Energy.
Organisers says these talks helped connect the machinery on display with the operational planning, energy supply, infrastructure and organisational changes required to make electrification successful.
Focused breakout sessions explored a range of practical technologies and operational considerations. These included Paul Larsen and Kress examining turf quality and performance using robotic mowers, while Ed Dennett discussed where electric tractors could support low-emission grounds maintenance in public-sector and professional turf environments.
Wes Crawford of Crawfords Group said, “VoltWorx26 was created to move the conversation around electrification from ambition to practical action. By bringing such a broad range of machinery and vehicles together, visitors could see that electric technology is now being developed for serious professional applications across amenity and fleet operations.”
