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Geomachine Oy

The purchase price of an electric ground investigation rig is still higher than that of a diesel-powered one, which may lead some to question whether the investment is worthwhile. In this article, we explain why an electric rig is a smart long-term choice.

The price difference between diesel and electric ground investigation rigs is mainly due to the cost of batteries and the high-voltage components required by electric rigs. Although an electric motor is simpler and cheaper than a diesel engine, the control system for the motor and battery involves more components, which adds to the overall cost of the rig.

It’s reasonable to expect that as legislation continues to tighten to promote emission-free ground investigation, and as electrification becomes more widespread and battery demand increases, manufacturing costs will decrease. However, investing in an electric rig already makes sense. When comparing its purchase price to its total lifecycle cost, an electric rig is a sound investment even at current price levels.

Fewer breakdowns, more productive working days

Electric rigs require maintenance just like diesel versions, but electric motors need less attention due to their simpler structure. The motor is virtually maintenance-free—there’s no need for oil or filter changes, for example. In practice, servicing the electric powertrain involves inspecting the battery pack, components, cables and connectors. As with diesel engines, coolant must be replaced every two years.

Because there are fewer potential failure points in an electric motor, the result is naturally fewer unplanned downtime days. And downtime is costly—not only because of direct expenses, but also due to potential loss of revenue, late delivery penalties and reputational damage.

Meeting future demands

The most significant driver of electrification is increasingly strict legislation. The EU has already introduced Stage V emission limits, with even stricter regulations on the horizon. In the Nordics, cities like Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm already require zero-emission machinery on certain worksites. In public tenders, emission requirements such as compliance with at least Stage V standards or full zero emissions are becoming more common.

As legislation tightens, national and EU-level support for electrification is also increasing. In Finland, for example, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has funded electric machinery pilots, while at EU level, initiatives such as InvestEU and the Green Deal have offered funding for SMEs.

The ability of an electric rig to meet future legal requirements makes it a worthwhile investment for ground investigation companies that aim to look beyond the near future. Electric rigs are also more resilient to anticipated changes in fuel distribution over the next decade.

Perception matters, too

For a company to succeed today, responsible practices are no longer optional—they are expected. Not only authorities but also customers and stakeholders increasingly demand accountability. Investing in electric machinery is no longer just about image—it’s a practical response to modern-day expectations.

In addition to being an excellent technical choice, acquiring an electric rig also sends a powerful message: the company is a front-runner and pioneer in its field, committed to responsible business and long-term vision.

Interested? Contact Geomachine!

Geomachine Oy

The electrification of work machines is well underway in the construction, mining, and logistics sectors. As we’re still in an early transitional phase, adopting new technological solutions may raise numerous concerns. In this article, we address the most common of these.

Electrifying work machines is no longer limited to individual pilot projects. We’ve now entered a phase where, in addition to customer requirements, product development is driven by increasingly stringent legislation and societal pressure to shift toward zero-emission operations.

The Geomachine GMe100 is a fully electric ground investigation rig, launched onto the market in early 2025. Its development continues as customer feedback and changes in the operating environment are incorporated. Since electrification in the ground investigation sector is still a relatively new topic, purchasing an electric rig can raise doubts—for instance, regarding its reliability, usability, and maintenance.

Is the battery durable, and where can it be charged?

Battery technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. The proliferation of electric cars has been a strong driving force behind this, and new battery technologies are now increasingly being used in mobile work machines.

Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type. Battery packs are continuously becoming smaller and lighter, yet they can still deliver several hours of operating time in the mid‑size work‑machine category. Mechanical durability and discharge power of batteries have also improved. This is critical, especially for work machines, which may operate intermittently and include power‑demanding peaks.

Charging infrastructure is evolving rapidly. In the Nordics, infrastructure is the most advanced relative to population size—particularly in Norway, whose charging network ranks among the leading in the entire EU. This trend is expected to continue, spurred by ongoing EU programmes. The aim is to have charging stations every 60 km along key routes.

Does it operate in cold conditions?

Battery endurance is crucial for the functionality of a ground investigation rig in cold conditions. Thermal management and cold‑tolerance features of batteries are continuously improving. This advancement has made it possible for electric work machines to operate reliably even in subzero temperatures.

Diesel‑powered ground investigation machines use urea to control harmful emissions. However, urea introduces challenges in cold conditions—freezing at –11 °C can lead to nozzle blockages, pump and hose damage, and even failure to start. These problems are absent in electric rigs because urea is unnecessary. In cold conditions, this may actually make electric rigs more reliable than their diesel counterparts.

Is maintenance of the rig difficult?

Availability of spare parts for the electric rig may be a concern. The rig is equivalent to a diesel rig except for its power source, so most spare parts needs are similar.

Geomachine maintains substantial spare‑parts inventory alongside its production facilities; some parts are even machined in‑house. Therefore, spare parts for the electric rig can be delivered the same day if needed. For rarer parts ordered from external suppliers, delivery times are naturally longer.

Electric rigs require less maintenance than diesel‑powered ones because the electric motor has fewer failure points. There’s no need for engine oil changes or air and fuel filter replacements, and the components of the electrified powertrain are nearly maintenance‑free.

Maintenance of the electric powertrain mainly involves inspecting the high‑voltage battery, cables, and connectors. Cooling fluid must still be replaced every two years, just like in diesel rigs. The rest of the rig is maintained in the usual manner.

Is the electric machine difficult to operate?

Don’t fear using the electric rig because it’s more complicated than the diesel model—because it isn’t. All Geomachine rigs share the same operational logic and basic functionalities, regardless of powertrain. The only new skill needed is how to charge the battery and plan charging.

You could even argue that using an electric rig is simpler than a diesel one. Starting it is easier—no pre‑heating or warm‑up needed. You get full power from the electric motor immediately, there’s no gear shift to manage, and you don’t need to monitor urea levels.

The electric rig is also fully compatible with equipment used on diesel rigs.

Purchase price or future potential?

Money still strongly influences purchasing decisions by ground investigation firms—understandable, of course.

However, transitioning to electric ground investigation—perhaps gradually—is worth considering now. According to research, the market for electric mobile work machines could grow by 10–15 % annually until 2030 (sources: IDTechEx, BloombergNEF). Meanwhile, legislation pushing toward zero emissions will tighten, making electrification a baseline requirement.

Ground investigation firms that look beyond the purchase price and understand the industry’s trajectory and future themes now position themselves as responsible pioneers.

Interested? Contact Geomachine!

Geomachine

The emission class requirements for machines used in ground investigation are becoming increasingly stringent, and the pressure to work in an environmentally friendly manner is growing. Geomachine’s response to this challenge is the fully electric GMe100 drill rig.

The emissions of diesel-powered work machines have begun to be restricted, especially in densely built urban areas. For example, in Oslo, their use is no longer permitted. Efforts to reduce emissions are also evident in public tenders organized by cities, where emission class requirements are stricter than before, even if emissions are not yet legally regulated in the tendering area.

In the world of ground investigation, just like in technological development in general today, the trend is towards electrification. New product innovations are continually being introduced under this theme. Geomachine is also actively developing products to meet changes and expectations in its operating environment. The latest example of this is the fully electric GMe100 ground investigation rig.

New product innovations are created in collaboration with customers

Geomachine’s Chief Technology Officer, Vesa-Matti Salminen, explains that the GMe100 ground investigation rig was developed based on market needs. “When the requirement for zero-emission operation was enforced in Oslo, Norway, our distributor operating there contacted us. Following discussions and market research, we began developing an electrically powered drill rig in 2023.”

The GMe100 drill rig was built on the existing diesel-powered GM100 platform. It retains the same functionalities and usability as its diesel-powered twin. The machine’s operations remain hydraulic, but power generation in this rig is fully electric.

The length of Geomachine’s product development process varies depending on whether it involves a completely new product innovation or the further development of an existing product. The journey of the GMe100 drill rig from the drawing board to machine delivery took about two years.

When developing a completely new innovation, the product development process does not end at the time of delivery. “Although the machine is ready at delivery, close collaboration with the customer continues in the support phase,” says Geomachine’s Head of Engineering, Juha Sandholm. “We collect customer feedback on the real-world functionality of the machine to make further refinements if needed. Customers who invest in new innovations are industry pioneers. They understand that a finished product can still be refined after deployment and are keen to participate in this stage of product development.”

An electrically powered option for ground investigation

The GMe100 ground investigation rig is suitable for all the same investigation methods as its diesel-powered twin. These include dynamic probing, weight sounding, percussion drilling, casing drilling, spt and dspt testing, cpt and cpt-u testing, and pore pressure drilling. Additionally, it is suitable for groundwater pipe installation and sampling from both hard and soft grounds.

The GMe100 rig is powered by a battery-operated electric motor. Compressed air is supplied via an electric compressor. “During product development, we realized that using an electric compressor improves the efficiency of the fully electric machine, allowing for longer operation on a single battery charge,” says Juha Sandholm. “With a dedicated motor for the compressor, we were able to reduce the size of the machine’s main powertrain motor.”

The battery life of the rig varies depending on the investigation method used, and its capacity can be increased with an additional battery pack if necessary.

Like Geomachine’s equipment in general, the GMe100 is highly intelligent. It features an IQAN control system and GMTracker data logging software. A Cloud version of the logging software is also available, enhancing workflow efficiency, machine maintenance, and project management by connecting all stakeholders in the project’s value chain in real time.

Usability was another key focus in designing the GMe100 rig. This machine includes more storage space than before for the operator’s tools and essential liquids.

Key principles of product development

Vesa-Matti Salminen explains that Geomachine adheres to specific requirements in product development, ensuring that every product meets the highest standards. “We strive for quality in everything we do; our machines must be durable and perform at their best. Our products must also be easy to use. That’s why we aim for minimal differences in usability between models. Workplace safety is another crucial factor, and we continuously develop new solutions to enhance it.”

Geomachine’s customers share a commitment to working with the most reliable and user-friendly machines on the market. But that’s not all. “Our customers also highly value efficient and high-quality customer support. It’s important for them to get assistance from a familiar service representative who knows the machine’s history and features inside out.”

The GMe100 is a product innovation that Geomachine is extremely proud of. “Drawing on our extensive experience, we have successfully built a machine that enables ground investigation with exceptional quality and efficiency—now also in a more environmentally friendly and emission-free manner, meeting today’s demands.”

Interested? Contact Geomachine!