In response to high gas prices, environmental concerns, and rising operating costs, aerial lift manufacturers are offering more and more options when it comes to electric equipment. These advancements reflect a broader industry push toward smarter, safer, and more sustainable aerial solutions.
“We’re finding that many customers who do not want to take the major step forward on purchasing and using an all-electric bucket truck are still opting for an ePTO system – like our HyPower SmartPTO by Viatec due to reduced jobsite noise and emissions,” says Tyler Schwingler, Marketing Product Manager for Terex Utilities. “SmartPTO reduces idling, increases fuel savings, and minimizes noise and air pollution by utilizing stored plug-in electric power to operate the equipment.” It’s just one example of how aerial equipment is evolving with cutting-edge technologies that improve both environmental impact and jobsite efficiency.
However, electrification isn’t the only quality driving aerial lift innovation. Numerous other features target safety, advanced operations, and productivity.
Electrification leads the charge: Expanded electric model selection
Terex Utilities, for example, introduced the most recent new electric bucket truck option. The company installed its Optima HR55 Overcenter bucket truck powered by the HyPower SmartPTO by Viatec on the Mack MD7 Electric chassis to deliver a zero-emissions utility truck that can drive farther and haul more cargo. This kind of innovation demonstrates how aerial equipment is being reimagined from the ground up – incorporating advanced drivetrain technologies, greater range, and heavier payloads without compromising performance.
Terex introduced the industry’s first, all-electric bucket truck, an International eMV (also equipped with an Optima 55-foot aerial), in 2022.
Both trucks feature a 33,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating and a SmartPTO that is powered independently of the chassis.
Terex says preliminary testing has revealed Terex all-electric bucket truck with the Mack MD7 Electric chassis has “up to 1.5-times enhanced range capabilities compared to other Class 6/7 medium-duty electric chassis bucket trucks, with double the payload capacity on the rear axle”.
Versalift now offers several electrically powered aerials, however the most popular, according to the company, are the VST-40-HDI Articulated Telescopic Bucket Truck, the VST-52 Articulated Telescopic Bucket Truck, and the SST-37/40 EIH Articulated Telescopic Aerial Lift.
The VST-40-HDI is a powerful, insulated bucket truck that provides 700 pounds of material handling capacity across the entire span of its working envelope. The VST-52 Insulated articulated/telescopic unit has a working height of 56 feet, a horizontal reach of 30 feet, and 400 pounds of platform capacity. The SST-37/40 EIH has 42 feet of working height, nearly 28 feet of horizontal reach, and 450 pounds of platform capacity.
Posi+ has made its foray into the electric vehicle (EV) market. In 2021, the company partnered with Lion Electric—a leading North American manufacturer of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles—to develop the country's first all-electric bucket truck capable of performing the full range of work that electric utilities require of such vehicles, to specifications put out by customer, Con Edison. The class 8 all-electric truck will be capable of traveling an estimated 130 miles on a single charge.
Of course, electrification is only one part of the equation. The latest advancements in aerial equipment also focus on operator safety, situational awareness, and seamless control systems.
Protecting people, equipment, and the built environment
Several of Versalift’s popular insulated bucket truck models are equipped with unique passive safety systems.
One system, called SlopeMax, consists of lightweight sensors that control the lower boom when deploying at base slopes of greater than five and less than ten degrees when deploying at base slopes of greater than five and less than ten degrees.
Another system—TruGuard—isolates the upper controls at the platform. According to Versalift: “These benefit linemen, who can use familiar hydraulic controls and tool power ports, even while accessing distribution infrastructure”.
In addition, ElectroGuard is an isolation system that provides an insulation gap on the boom, preventing current from arcing and impacting the safety of people nearby.
The bottom two features are available on Versalifts with insulated buckets.
The above-mentioned Terex Optima TC55 comes equipped with the Terex 3rd Eye digital platform. It seamlessly integrates up to six advanced HD camera systems for a full view of the work area, AI, and other technologies to improve safety and productivity- also including the prototype of a Reverse Automatic Braking Technology, which enhances protection by detecting potential hazards, providing visual and audible alerts, and applying the brakes automatically, without driver intervention.
“Best of all, the 3rd Eye System is wirelessly connected to the cloud, continuously capturing and storing critical operational data and video, providing fleet managers real-time visibility into driver performance, chassis and body activity, and equipment status,” said Eric Monsen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Environmental Solutions Group. “These comprehensive insights not only improve safety and reduce liability but also create a detailed event record and help identify coachable opportunities to reinforce safe driving behaviors.”
As aerial equipment continues to integrate AI, connectivity, and proactive safety features, fleet managers gain more control, better visibility, and the ability to act before issues arise – setting a new standard for utility fleet operations.
Improved performance features
In addition to smart electrification and enhanced safety, manufacturers are also refining mechanical performance – adding features that boost precision, reach, and usability.
Dur-A-Lift has added numerous improvements to its aerial equipment. The company’s popular model DPM2-52DU Telescopic Articulated Material Handling Bucket Truck features greater reach in a smaller chassis, a smaller outrigger footprint, a 22-inch basket elevator, a 180-degree basket rotator, and the ability to operate the jib from both sides.
The unit features a working height range between 43 feet and 59 feet, high electrical resistant controls, and two basket size options (DU and MH). The MH is a single-person basket (24 inches by 30 inches) and the DU with its 24-inch by 42-inch basket allows for up to two people and a material handling configuration.
Elliott Equipment Company's V63 HiReach is mounted to a non-CDL (commercial driver’s license) Class V 19,000-pound GVWR chassis and can be fully set up within a single parking space.
It features a SMARTControl System. This is designed to ensure seamless operation. It uses Bluetooth remote diagnostics for enhanced maintenance and operation. Single-touch operations make it easier to operate.
In Conclusion
From electric powertrains to AI-powered safety systems and streamlined operation controls, the aerial equipment landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. These latest advancements are not just about keeping up with industry standards – they’re setting new ones.
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