On a small farm, most loader hours are short jobs close to the barn: cleaning stalls, spreading bedding, moving feed, a few pallets, the lane after a storm. That is exactly the work an electric compact loader suits best. Here is what it does, what it doesn't, and how to choose.
The chores, attachment by attachment
Manure and bedding. The general bucket, included with every loader, or the 4-in-1 bucket, which can also clamp a load.
Feed, bags and palletized material. The pallet forks.
Fence posts. The auger, available for the L880 and the L1400.
Drainage and trenches for a water line. The digger arm.
Brush, logs and rocks. The grapple.
Snow on the lane and in the yard. The snow plow, for the L880 and L1400. See our snow removal guide.
Hay bales. There is no bale spear in our attachment list. Small square bales move on a pallet with the forks. A round bale can weigh more than the L880's rated load (880 lbs): weigh yours and talk to us before you buy.
Working inside the barn
No exhaust. The loader can work inside a barn, stable, riding arena or greenhouse with the doors closed. That matters most in winter, when the doors stay shut.
Far quieter than a diesel engine. An advantage around horses and livestock.
No diesel to store. No jerry cans or fuel tank near the hay.
Measure your doors and aisles. The L880 is 40" wide and 60" tall; the L1400, 3'10" wide and 7'5" tall; the L2500, 5'6" wide and 8'5" tall. Check for low beams too.
Charging on the farm's 120 V
A standard 120 V outlet in the barn or garage is enough; no charging station is needed. On a 15 A outlet, a full charge takes about 8 hours for the L880 and 12 for the L1400: plug it in after evening chores.
A few practical tips. If you can, use a circuit that doesn't also feed heaters, heated water bowls or block heaters, so the breaker doesn't trip. If you need an extension cord, keep it short, heavy-gauge and rated for outdoor use. And in an older building, have an electrician check the wiring.
A full charge from empty costs about $1.36 for the L880 and $2.17 for the L1400 in Quebec (Hydro-Québec Rate D, taxes included), and about $1.18 and $1.88 in Ontario (off-peak rate, estimate). For comparison, coloured farm diesel sold for $2.358/L before GST and QST in Quebec for the week of September 28, 2026. For the full math, see our cost comparison.
The limits
No PTO and no three-point hitch. A Nesher loader does not mow, till, bale or run a snow blower. If you already own a tractor, keep it for that work and let the loader do the loading. See our comparison with a compact tractor.
4 to 6 hours per charge. That covers morning and evening chores, not long days of field work.
Less run time in the cold. Store and charge the machine indoors when you can. What we know about winter.
Service. It comes from Shawinigan, Quebec, with mobile service across Eastern Canada. The machine has a two-year warranty and the battery pack three years.
L880 or L1400 for a farm?
The L880, at $19,990, for a hobby farm, a horse property or a few animals. It is the narrowest (40") and lifts 880 lbs.
The L1400, at $35,000, our most popular model, for a bigger farm or heavier loads: a 1,400 lbs rated load, and an optional heated cab ($3,400) for winter chores.
The L2500 is aimed at commercial operations. To compare all three, read our buyer's guide.
Taxes and financing
An unincorporated farm can write off 100% of the cost in the first year, but cannot claim the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit. An incorporated farm may also qualify for that refundable credit, up to 30% on a new machine. The details are in our tax credit guide; this is general information, so confirm your situation with your accountant. For financing, Farm Credit Canada finances farm equipment.
Next step
Build the L880 or the L1400 with the attachments your farm needs to see the price, or ask for a quote and tell us about your chores.