The three Nesher loaders have a lot in common: they are 100% electric, all-wheel drive, charge from a standard 120 V outlet and work 4 to 6 hours per charge. What changes from one model to the next is how much they lift, how big they are, how long they take to recharge, and the price. Here is how to choose, with every spec taken straight from our product pages.
The three models side by side
| Spec | L880 | L1400 | L2500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (general bucket included, before taxes) | $19,990 | $35,000 | $65,000 |
| Rated load | 880 lbs (400 kg) | 1,400 lbs (635 kg) | 2,500 lbs (1,130 kg) |
| Weight | 2,470 lbs | 4,520 lbs | 6,400 lbs |
| Standard battery | 9 kWh, AGM | 14.4 kWh, AGM | 25.4 kWh, AGM |
| Run time per charge | 4–6 h | 4–6 h | 4–6 h |
| Full charge, 120 V / 15 A outlet | about 8 h | about 12 h | about 20 h |
| Width | 40" | 3'10" | 5'6" |
| Height | 60" | 7'5" | 8'5" |
| Dump height | 5'11" | 7'1" | 7'10" |
| Heated cab | Not offered | Option, $3,400 | Enclosed heated cab, standard |
| Optional attachments | 6 | 6 | 2 |
Run time depends on the load, the terrain and the temperature. In deep cold, plan for less: see what we know about winter.
1. Start with the heaviest thing you lift often
This narrows the choice fastest. The L880 has a rated load of 880 lbs, the L1400 1,400 lbs and the L2500 2,500 lbs. Pick the model whose rated load covers what you lift regularly, with a margin: a pallet of pavers, a bale of hay, a bucket of wet gravel. Weigh it if you are not sure; a bucket of wet material is often heavier than it looks.
2. Check where the machine has to fit
Measure your doors, gates, barn aisles and trailer. 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. For hauling, the L880 weighs 2,470 lbs, the L1400 4,520 lbs and the L2500 6,400 lbs: check your trailer's and tow vehicle's ratings.
3. Think about charging
All three models have the same advertised run time, but a bigger battery takes longer to refill on a 120 V, 15 A outlet: about 8 hours for the L880, 12 for the L1400 and 20 for the L2500. The L880 recharges overnight. If you plan to run the L2500 full days back to back, a 240 V supply is recommended; ask us about charger options.
4. Winter and the cab
The L1400 can be ordered with an enclosed, heated cab, and the L2500 includes one. The L880 is not offered with a cab. Heating draws energy from the battery, which reduces run time.
5. Attachments
Every loader comes with a general bucket. For the L880 and L1400 you can add pallet forks, an auger, a digger arm, a snow plow, a 4-in-1 bucket and a grapple. The L2500 is offered with pallet forks and a digger arm. If your work depends on one specific attachment, that often decides the model.
6. The LFP battery
The standard batteries are AGM. A lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack is available as an option: $4,600 on the L880, and $6,100 on the L1400, where the 17 kWh pack adds 1 to 2 hours of run time per charge. For the L2500, the LFP solution is custom-built for your duty cycle.
Which one is for you
The L880, for a property, a hobby farm or a small job site. It is the most compact and the least expensive, at $19,990, in the same price range as a sub-compact tractor with a loader. It suits tight spaces, precision work and lighter loads. See our comparison with a compact tractor.
The L1400, for most contractors and farms. It is our most popular model: a rated load of 1,400 lbs, every attachment, an optional heated cab and an overnight recharge. If you are torn between two models, it is often the right answer.
The L2500, for heavy commercial work. A 2,500 lbs rated load, the heated cab as standard and the highest dump height in the lineup. Plan the charging: on 120 V, it does not refill overnight.
What you can deduct
Two federal measures apply to buying a new electric loader. Summary below; this is general information, not tax advice: confirm your situation with your accountant.
Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit, up to 30%. It is refundable and open only to taxable Canadian corporations. Sole proprietors cannot claim it. The equipment must be new. The law lists non-road zero-emission vehicles as eligible property, and an electric loader is expected to fit that category, but the federal technical guidance is still in development (Canada Revenue Agency). For a qualifying corporation, 30% is worth up to $5,997 on an L880, $10,500 on an L1400 and $19,500 on an L2500.
100% first-year write-off. Zero-emission equipment that is not a road vehicle can be written off 100% in the first year by any business, incorporated or not. For a corporation that receives the credit, the write-off applies to the cost left after the credit.
The details are in our tax credit guide.
Next step
Build the L880, the L1400 or the L2500 with your attachments to see the price, or ask for a quote and tell us about your work: we will tell you which model fits, and you can hand the quote to your accountant.