ASHEVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, FIRSTGREEN Industries, the global manufacturer of the first and only commercially available, electric, zero-emission skid steer loader, recently announced the expansion of its U.S. footprint reporting more than 120 loaders operating across the U.S. and Canada. Growth has been propelled by the addition of dealerships in new states including New York, Washington, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Maryland, with nearly 20 dealerships now selling FIRSTGREEN machines. FIRSTGREEN aims to transform the loud, dangerous and dirty diesel-powered skid steer industry with a more environmentally sustainable solution that reduces ownership costs and is easy to integrate into large machinery fleets. FIRSTGREEN’s machines bring near-silent operation, zero emissions, minimum operating fluids, and minimum maintenance. The machines are also 98% recyclable.
Founded in 2018, FIRSTGREEN is headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, with its U.S. headquarters in Asheville, North Carolina, and began selling to the U.S. market through dealerships in 2021. Since then, FIRSTGREEN has been replacing or augmenting machinery fleets with its electric alternative within industries such as agriculture, construction, demolition and more. It’s estimated that around 337 pounds of CO2 is released per day, per diesel skid steer, equating to about 112 million pounds of CO2 in its lifetime, or nearly 51 tons of CO2 – the same as one car driving to and from the sun more than 3 times.
"In the U.S. we've seen a significant spike in interest for our skid steer loaders over the last year, with expanding use cases in waste management, landscaping, power plants, mining and more,” said Marcus Suess, chief operating officer of FIRSTGREEN Industries in the United States. “This is being driven not only by a shifting mindset toward cleaner, safer, more sustainable solutions in off-road environments in line with Scope3 emissions goals, but by the affordability and practicality of our machines. Operating costs of our skid steer loaders are up to 10 times lower than diesel machines, and pay for themselves in about 18 months. Further, the battery life enables operators to work a full day in most cases, without needing a charge.”
The off-road electric equipment market is anticipated to grow to $42.4 billion by 2030 as heavy equipment is expected to move away from diesel engines. Federal and state governments are now incentivizing the replacement and/or purchase of diesel with electric machines, including the Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program with local funding coming from states like California through the California Clean Off-Road Equipment (CORE) Voucher Incentive Project.
"Switching to the Elise900 electric skid steer has revolutionized my mountainous 17-acre property in Colorado," said Doug Thomas, a farmer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. "The decision to go electric eliminated diesel use, providing cost savings and mitigating fire risks during dry seasons. The machine seamlessly navigates challenging terrains, addressing diverse needs in agriculture, forestry, and snow removal, even handling 15% grades with ease and efficiency remains unaffected by altitude. With zero fuel costs, minimal emissions, and year-round usability, it outperformed traditional diesel machines, and it's priced competitively."
FIRSTGREEN’s production hub is designed to prioritize efficiency, comfort, safety and sustainability in machine innovation. Always developing new upgrades for its machines based on research and user feedback, the company plans to unveil the first-ever, cabinless, teleoperated loaders in 2024 in answer to growing interest in teleoperated solutions by operators in the U.S. and globally.
To learn more about FIRSTGREEN, visit www.first.green. Operators interested in purchasing through FIRSTGREEN can contact their nearest dealership through FIRSTGREEN’s website.
About FIRSTGREEN Industries
FIRSTGREEN Industries is building a cleaner future with the world’s first and only commercially available, electric, zero-emission skid steer loader with unique sizes, adaptable attachments and near-silent operation for agriculture, construction, demolition and more. As the off-road electric equipment market is forecasted to grow to $42.4 billion by 2030, FIRSTGREEN offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to dirty, loud diesel-powered machines. FIRSTGREEN also manufactures the MiniZ, the first zero-emission mini track loader that fits through a standard doorway. FIRSTGREEN Industries is based in Prague, Czech Republic, with North American headquarters in Asheville, North Carolina. Find out more at www.first.green.
