Chef Spaai*, alias Jan Sandkuijl, machinist at Visser Hoogeloon from Eersel in Brabant, has been operating a new DX165W Electric mobile excavator since mid-September 2024. We met up with Jan to discuss his experience with this machine. In addition to his experience, we also briefly zoom in on his TikTok account, on which he proudly puts this machine in the 'daylight', among other things. Jan doesn't mince his words as a 'Sandkuijl' and proudly talks about his machine.
*Spaai is a nickname and it means: dig.
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Jan is very enthusiastic about this powerhouse and is happy that it is 'his' permanent machine. This way he can start every day in a machine that is completely assembled and built according to his wishes, but of course also to those of Visser Hoogeloon. Jan says: "it is really nice to be able to work in and with this machine because I can do everything I want with it". This DX165W Electric is a beautiful complete machine on which all options have been built by Staad with some extras such as engcon joysticks and tiltrotator, gripper, GPS, orange top lights on top of the cabin and red LED lights at the back, Wiejelo automatic greasing, Freshfilter overpressure system and Alliance dual tires for extra stability.
Previously, Jan worked on various diesel, mobile and tracked machines supplied by Staad. “I have worked on three brands in my machinists for years, but I have always liked the Doosans. When I heard that an electric one from Staad was possible, I was immediately convinced, because you know what you get is simply good, both the machine and the service”, says Jan. “And it is true, this machine is not inferior to a diesel and does exactly what it is supposed to do, only this one is a bit faster, but you get used to that just as quickly”, says Jan.
Jan continues: “This is a really great machine, with picking up paving slabs and picking up stones, how it does all that, that is really good. In addition, I also have good visibility all around, both front and back. I had blind spot mirrors fitted to the machine and that works perfectly. Only the cameras, the right one for the blind spot and the one from behind, they come together in one screen. If you drive from front to back, it automatically jumps back to the reversing image, it does that automatically. That is also good, but if I drive forward again, it no longer automatically throws it back to both cameras. You have to reactivate that yourself and you don't do that in practice. But honestly, I don't use this either, I drive on the mirrors and that works really well”.
With the work that Jan mostly carries out, such as digging out a tire line, digging small trenches, throwing rubble in, turning stones & tires and quite a lot of driving, Jan can easily complete the working day. The machine has a Powerbox 400 battery, good for 400 kWh of energy. Jan says: “When the machine has to drive a lot, it costs a lot of energy, but that is also the case with diesels. I now know what the consumption is and at the end of the working day I still have at least 15 kWh left, which I can use for another 1.5 hours. “I charge the Powerbox every evening, then it is full the next morning and I can continue the entire working day without any worries,” says Jan.
“With a diesel you run longer, but I am sure that if developments continue like this, there will soon be more energy in such a battery, which means you can run longer, because that is the case with everything. But everything works well with this machine and if I have to drive more kilometers on the road, I sometimes put it on the charger during my break. That will blow about 1.5 hours extra in half an hour. Then I can easily drive back to the yard from work. This is looking ahead and it works well. In my daily work I do not experience any inconvenience because this machine runs for more than a working day on a full charge and is still in it for about 2 hours after the working day”.
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Jan says: “I wasn’t completely crazy about an electric machine at first either, but I was interested and certainly open to it, the future after all. But it’s just great. And if there’s something wrong with the machine, I just call Staad myself and say ‘come on, you need to come over’, they pick it up straight away, ask me out straight away and then it’s sorted. There are still a few minor issues, but I know they’ll come before Christmas for the included service and they’ll take care of those minor issues, they just do it and that’s really nice”.
Jan asked the 'boss' when Visser Hoogeloon was going to order a new machine if the machine could be equipped with some more options. That was agreed and so this machine now has, among other things, extra red LED rear lighting on the rear. "Together with Rob Somers, the mechanic from Staad, I installed the LEDs. I want something like that to be done properly and safely and not be squeezed in somewhere. Really great that this was possible and it was also fun and enjoyable. Rob and Staad, thanks again for that", says Jan.
What immediately stands out is the neon lighting at the back of the cabin. An illuminated logo of the Visser Hoogeloon logo hangs here. Jan wanted this himself, a real heart for the business and this is certainly mutual when you see this machine like this. You can see a photo of the neon lighting in the photo album below.
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Jan has been active as Chef Spaai on the social media video platform TikTok since May 2021. Here he posts work-related videos, often with some humor, but actually just the everyday things. The moment the new DX165W Electric arrived is also prominently featured on his TikTok.
We ask Jan about the experiences on TikTok and Jan tells enthusiastically: “Even from Sweden they watch and follow me, that's nice. The most frequently asked question is whether the machine will last a working day. And that is true, I can confirm and show it. I do notice that everyone has a prejudice about electric and I have to be honest, I had that too, but I have opened myself up to it and if it were no good then the boss would have a problem with it, then I will just get rid of it. But that is not necessary, because I am really super satisfied.
Meanwhile, time ticks by and we wrap up the interview, but not before we mention Jan's TikTok channel. So if you have any questions, you can ask Jan, you'll have to follow Jan on: www.tiktok.com/@chefspaai
And do you have any questions for us? Let us know. Our representatives will be happy to inform you about this and our other earthmoving machines. You can also contact us for questions about charging infrastructure or energy on location.
More information about the DX165W Electric mobile excavator can be found on the product page online. Here you will find specifications, images and the product brochure can be downloaded. If you have any questions or are interested in this or any of the other electric earthmoving machines that we sell at Staad, you can contact one of the representatives, who are also visible on this product page.
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