CO₂ · Peat, trees & land carbon · 23 October 2026
Electric vehicles used for coastal defence trial in Sussex
The Environment Agency has confirmed that electric construction vehicles successfully performed coastal defence work on a Sussex beach. The trial, which ran from 12 to 16 October, tested the reliability of low-emission machinery in operational conditions. Data collected will inform future decisions on equipment procurement.
The Environment Agency announced that a trial demonstrated electric construction vehicles can successfully perform coastal defence work. The joint project with industry partners took place on a Sussex beach, where a fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles operated alongside traditional machinery. The aim was to test whether low-emission equipment could meet the demands of working on a beach.
Figures published with the announcement show the coastal management scheme covers 15km of coastline and is expected to cost £140 million over 10 years. A 22-tonne electric excavator was part of the fleet that moved shingle during the test period. Planned works for the scheme are scheduled for 2027 and 2037, with the Environment Agency set to take over management of the Eastbourne Frontage in June 2027.
The trial was limited to a specific operational test and does not constitute a full deployment. The agency noted that data on productivity, reliability, and battery performance will influence future decisions. 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."
The announcement does not specify which industry partners collaborated on the trial or provide detailed technical specifications for the hybrid vehicles used. It also does not state whether the electric excavator will be used in other locations outside the Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne area.
Written by StreetOwl from Environment Agency’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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