CranePower has launched the E-Gen, a compact battery-powered mobile energy system designed for construction applications, as the company expands its focus on reducing diesel dependency across jobsites.
The New Zealand-based startup, founded by engineer Elliot Peacocke, developed the system to provide an alternative to traditional diesel generators, which are commonly used to power equipment such as tower cranes.
In early deployments across New Zealand and Australia, the E-Gen reduced operational fuel costs by up to 85%, according to the company.
“Construction has been running on diesel generators for decades, but it’s an incredibly inefficient system. You’re burning fuel all day to service short bursts of demand,” Peacocke said.
The E-Gen system is built around CranePower’s Adaptive Power Platform, which manages energy sources including generators, mains power and stored battery energy. The platform is designed to respond to demand spikes in real time, supporting more efficient energy use on site.
Traditional generators are often sized to handle peak loads, resulting in underutilization during normal operation. The E-Gen is engineered to balance energy demand throughout the day, reducing downtime and minimizing reliance on fuel.
“We’re matching power supply to how sites actually operate. Once you do that, the waste disappears, along with the costs,” Peacocke said.
The system is designed with a compact footprint, approximately 10% the size of a traditional containerized battery energy storage system. It can be transported using standard pickup trucks and deployed without heavy lifting equipment. For larger operations, multiple units can be connected and operated together.
Each E-Gen unit provides real-time performance monitoring through a 4G-enabled interface, allowing operators to track power usage, battery status and environmental conditions.
In addition to reducing fuel consumption, the system is designed to eliminate on-site emissions associated with diesel-powered generators, supporting broader electrification efforts across construction equipment and jobsite operations.
“The E-Gen system is an efficiency multiplier,” Peacocke said. “It saves time, space, and day-to-day operational costs.”
CranePower will showcase the system at upcoming industry events, including the International Rental Exhibition in the Netherlands and the Tower Cranes North America conference in June.
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