Electric diggers and trucks tested on Eastbourne beach in major step towards greener coastal defences

Electric diggers, trucks and other construction vehicles have been put through their paces on Eastbourne beach as part of a pioneering trial aimed at making coastal flood defences cleaner, quieter and more environmentally friendly.

The Environment Agency has hailed the success of its latest initiative, which saw battery-powered and hybrid machinery used to move shingle along the East Sussex coastline as part of essential flood and erosion protection work.

The trial, known as "Electric October", took place between 12 and 16 October, with specialist vehicles transporting shingle from White Point in Eastbourne to North-east Beach in Sovereign Harbour.

The operation forms part of annual beach management work designed to protect homes, businesses and infrastructure from coastal flooding and erosion.

The fleet included a 22-tonne electric excavator, tipper trucks, hybrid bulldozers and 4x4 vehicles, all working in challenging conditions on the beach.

Environment Agency officials say the trial demonstrated that electric machinery can successfully handle the demanding conditions of coastal defence work while reducing emissions, noise pollution and fuel costs.

Throughout the five-day operation, engineers and project teams monitored how the vehicles performed, collecting information on productivity, reliability, battery life, energy consumption and charging requirements.

They also gathered feedback from operators to understand how the machinery compared with conventional diesel-powered equipment.

According to the Environment Agency, the results showed that low-emission vehicles could carry out the essential work effectively without compromising the operation.

Amber Carr, Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Beach Manager, said: "Electric October has shown us that this technology is not just a nice idea, it can work in a real operational environment.

"Watching a fully electric excavator and fleet of vehicles keep pace with our teams on the beach has been genuinely exciting, and it's given us real confidence about how we can run these essential operations more sustainably in future."

Moving shingle along this stretch of the Eastbourne coastline is a vital part of managing the beach and maintaining its ability to protect the surrounding area from the sea.

Without regular maintenance, the natural movement of beach material can leave sections of the coastline more vulnerable to erosion and flooding.

Nick Gray, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, said the trial had demonstrated that newer technology could play an important role in maintaining coastal defences.

"Keeping shingle moving along this stretch of coast is essential to protecting homes, businesses and infrastructure from flooding and erosion.

"This trial has shown that low-carbon technology can do that job just as effectively as traditional machinery, giving us a clear and practical route towards cleaner coastal defence in the future."

The Environment Agency says the findings will now be used to help shape future decisions about using electric and low-emission construction equipment on similar projects.

This could include beach management operations, coastal construction schemes and flood defence work elsewhere in England.

The trial is part of wider efforts to reduce the environmental impact of maintaining the country's flood and coastal erosion defences while ensuring communities continue to receive the protection they need.

For Eastbourne, the successful demonstration could mark an important step towards quieter and cleaner coastal maintenance operations in the years ahead.

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