Italian electric forklift maker Carer used CeMAT 2002 as its platform to announce production of the world's first-ever electric telehandler, the TeleLift 2306.

Carer commercial sales manager Filippo Baldassari said the 96-volt telehandler, a 12-month joint development with Terex of the US giant's popular 51/19, would be launched at the end of May, with the first units delivered in July.

The TeleLift has a 2.3-tonne lift capacity, with a 5.5-metre reach height. Testing had seen 8-10.5 hours' battery duration, and 12-hour charge times.

"Terex asked us to produce an electric version of their forklift for them," Mr Baldassari said. "They agreed to co-brand the product, meaning we can sell them as part of our range, and so can Terex."

Mr Baldassari said one of the main reasons Terex decided to develop the forklift was to meet US regulations, which place stringent noise restrictions on the use of machinery after dark.

The two companies were currently negotiating a similar arrangement to develop an electric version of Terex's Gladiator model, which is a top seller in the US. Mr Baldassari would not discuss details.

Carer, whose philosophy since its inception in 1976 has been to develop electric forklifts as alternatives to internal combustion or gas machines, was Terex's first choice.

Under the production agreement, the machines will be assembled to near-completion at Terex's Italmachine, Umbria facility, then transported to Carer for installation of the electric motor and associated electronics.