Electric construction machinery course
Online course of 300 hours in electric construction machinery, in 6 modules covering the electrification of site machinery, electrified hydraulic systems, energy on the construction site, safety and regulations (Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, ISO 14990), and operation, maintenance and economics, with an assigned technical tutor.
Electric construction machinery course — studying from South Africa
South Africa's transition to electromobility is gaining momentum, with automotive manufacturers evaluating electric and hybrid models and local battery and hydrogen research under way. The country has significant mineral resources, including platinum group metals relevant to fuel cells, and universities and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research support work on energy storage and hydrogen technologies. Government policy on the energy transition shapes investment in charging infrastructure and related industries. Engineers in this field work across vehicle systems, power electronics and energy storage.
Fees for South Africa: R 8 340 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Is this qualification recognised by South African bodies in electromobility, batteries or hydrogen?
ECSA is the statutory registration body for engineers in South Africa, and there is no separate national register for electromobility or hydrogen specialists. SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state degrees, and are not accredited by a national body. Whether employers or the relevant professional body recognise them is their decision, so confirm this with them before you enrol.
Are there South African employers in batteries or hydrogen who might value this training?
South Africa has growing interest in electric mobility, battery storage and green hydrogen, with activity in automotive, energy and research organisations. Employers generally look for experience, technical competence and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may help you show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee a job. Discuss the programme with target employers and use it alongside practical experience.
Can I manage this with work, and does employer funding exist?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English. Study is remote, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which many employers offer for professional development in general terms.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the electrification architectures of construction machinery.
Design electrified hydraulic systems with energy recovery.
Plan the energy supply for machinery on site.
Apply the safety requirements of the Machinery Regulation and ISO 14990.
Evaluate the total cost of ownership of electric machinery.
Organise maintenance and telematics for machinery fleets.
Develop an electrification project for construction machinery.
Who it's for
- Construction machinery engineers.
- Machinery maintenance technicians.
- Plant fleet managers.
- Hydraulic systems engineers.
- Sustainability managers in construction.
- Site health and safety technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the construction sector.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (Machinery Regulation)
- Directive 2006/42/EC (Machinery Directive)
- ISO 14990-1 (electrical safety of earth-moving machinery with electric drives)
- EN 474-1 (earth-moving machinery: general safety requirements)
- ISO 13766-1 (electromagnetic compatibility of earth-moving machinery)
- ISO 19014-1 (functional safety of earth-moving machinery)
- ISO 13849-1 (safety-related parts of control systems)
- IEC 62619 (safety of lithium batteries for industrial applications)
- Simcenter Amesim
- MATLAB/Simulink
- Automation Studio
- Siemens NX
6 modules
1.1Electric excavators, loaders and dumpers1.2Battery, cable-powered and hybrid architectures1.3Comparison with diesel engines1.4Variable-speed hydraulic pumps1.5Duty cycles and power demand1.6Mini excavators and compact equipment1.7Tower cranes and aerial work platforms1.8Cable-powered machinery1.9Overview of manufacturers1.10Workshop: power profile of a 20 t excavator
2.1Pumps driven by electric motors2.2Electromechanical actuators versus hydraulic cylinders2.3Energy recovery during boom lowering2.4Demand control and load sensing2.5Hydraulic circuit efficiency2.6Thermal management of hydraulic oil2.7Noise and vibration reduction2.8Electrical systems from 48 to 800 V2.9Integration of electronic control2.10Practical exercise: recoverable energy in boom lowering
3.1Charging from generators, the grid and mobile batteries3.2Energy storage containers3.3Site energy planning3.4Site microgrids with photovoltaics3.5Temporary grid connection3.6Battery swapping in machinery3.7Chargers for heavy machinery3.8Shift management and range3.9Hydrogen in heavy machinery3.10Case study: energy plan for an urban construction site
4.1Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/12304.2Electrical safety to ISO 149904.3Requirements of the EN 474 series4.4Electromagnetic compatibility to ISO 137664.5Functional safety to ISO 190144.6Training of operators and technicians4.7Battery fire risk on site4.8Safe handling of batteries4.9Site signage and procedures4.10Case study: risk assessment of an electric dumper
5.1Maintenance compared with diesel equipment5.2Remote diagnostics and telematics5.3Battery service life under severe cycles5.4Total cost of ownership and energy5.5Electric machinery rental5.6Zero-emission sites and public tenders5.7Noise reduction for night work5.8Carbon footprint of the site5.9Experience from Oslo and other cities5.10Laboratory: telematics of an electric excavator
6.1Equipment selection and duty cycles6.2Battery and power sizing6.3Design of the electrified hydraulic system6.4On-site charging plan6.5Risk assessment and conformity6.6Machinery maintenance plan6.7Economic and environmental assessment6.8Implementation plan for the company6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter Amesim, MATLAB/Simulink, Automation Studio and Siemens NX, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: excavator duty cycle analysis, site energy planning and risk assessment of electric machinery. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, Directive 2006/42/EC, ISO 14990-1, EN 474-1, ISO 13766-1, ISO 19014-1, ISO 13849-1, IEC 62619.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Simcenter Amesim, MATLAB/Simulink, Automation Studio and Siemens NX, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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