China-based OEM Yuchai has announced that its YC S150 electric skid steer loader is set for mass production. Image: Yuchai

The OEM says that it will be China’s largest-tonnage electric skid steer loader. It will come with two battery options of 105/140kWh for different operational needs. Rapid charging will be available.

Yuchai added that the machine has patented integrated wheel-side electric drive axle which it says leads to 25% stronger traction than equivalent diesel models.

The news of the mass production follows what the company says was “rigorous testing in extreme high-temperature and frigid environments.”

Yuchai currently produces excavators, wheeled loaders, skid steer loaders, drilling rigs and other equipment. It already manufacturers electric construction equipment.

Yuchai’s engineering team subjected the S150 to prolonged operation under very hot conditions. Despite extreme thermal stress on cooling systems – where overheating could trigger controller failures, battery limitations, or safety risks – the loader maintained stable operation through optimised thermal design, keeping coolant temperatures within safe parameters.

The machine was also tested in sub-zero temperatures where conventional equipment struggles with startup issues and battery degradation. The OEM says that its advanced battery thermal management system ensured stable performance and sustained range, with field data confirming reliability in extreme cold.