Maastricht Goes Electric with Manitou Forklifts and More
Manitou Group, a worldwide manufacturer of material handling, aerial work platform and earthmoving machines, presenting its new ranges of Manitou semi-industrial and rough-terrain forklifts at the APEX show in Maastricht, The Netherlands. This major evolution marks the arrival of 10 new 100-percent electric models equipped with lithium-ion batteries. Proof of the group’s determination to expand its electric ranges, it is also presenting its 12-meter electric scissor lift for the first time in Europe. These launches reflect the group’s determination to accelerate its energy transition, with the aim of selling 28 percent electric machines by 2030.
The launch of the MC (Manitou compact rough-terrain forklifts) and MSI (Semi-Industrial) electric ranges responds to a profound change in customer requirements. Today’s customers are looking for solutions that can evolve between two very distinct environments: the power needed for outdoor applications and the cleanliness required for indoor environments (warehouses, greenhouses, food processing industries). This dual use is coupled with increasing regulations in urban areas, where the required pollution and noise thresholds sometimes exclude combustion engines. he MC range has thus been enhanced by six models available in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive for the most demanding terrain. This all-terrain range is aimed primarily at the construction, events and agricultural markets. The MSI range now includes four new semi-industrial models, particularly suited to recycling centers, sawmills and para-agricultural applications.
On the market in ‘26
To support this transition, Manitou Group will distribute these electric forklifts starting at the end of 2026. All equivalent combustion-powered models have also been redesigned and will be available by the end of 2026. Lithium-ion technology: efficiency without constraints The adoption of lithium-ion technology makes it possible to offer machines with the same footprint as combustion models, guaranteeing the same agility in tight spaces.
These batteries offer autonomy ranging from half a day to a full day’s work in two configurations: 29 kWh as standard and 41 kWh for intensive applications. Charging is fully flexible thanks to an on-board 3 kW charger (compatible with a standard 220 V socket), complemented by a 9 kW option for ultra-fast 2.5-hour charging cycles (for a charge time of 20 percent to 80 percent). Maintenance-free and covered by a five-year warranty, these batteries maximize profitability and machine availability, adapting perfectly to long-term rental cycles. Performance and versatility: rough-terrain excellence The MC e and MSI e models deliver performance comparable to that of the combustion-powered ranges, with load capacities ranging from 1.8 to 3.5 tons and lift heights reaching 5.5 to 6 meters, and all this without emissions of pollutants.
Thanks to a state-of-the-art hydrostatic transmission, operators benefit from a very high level of precision in their movements. The MC e stands out in particular for its 2 or 4-wheel drive capabilities with an oscillating rear axle, while the MSIe is particularly suited to handling long or bulky loads on asphalt or stony ground. On-board technology plays a key role: several driving modes (eco/standard) modulate the machine’s power and responsiveness for better fuel management.
Maintenance costs for these two ranges are halved, and energy costs are reduced by more than 60 percent compared with the combustion-powered ranges, according to the manufacturer, making total cost of ownership considerably more attractive for customers.
Comfort and safety: a premium working environment
The customer experience is taken to a new level with a completely redesigned cabin, common to both ranges, emphasizing space and ergonomics. Mounted on “silent blocks” to filter vibrations, it drastically reduces noise levels, thereby reducing operator fatigue. Access is simple with a single step. The man machine interface has been optimized, with a new central data display and a cross-shaped lever for intuitive hydraulic control. Manitou Group’s patented JSM joystick is also available as an option.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.