May 20, 2026
ARI 458 Pritsche XL used vehicle in tunnel construction: Gufler Metall relies on electric transporters for hydroelectric power plant in South Tyrol
When a new hydroelectric power plant is built in the South Tyrolean Alps, numerous local specialist companies are involved. One of them is the company Gufler Metall KG from Moos in Passeier. The hydraulic steel construction specialist recently acquired an ARI 458 flatbed XL as a certified used vehicle with a new LiFePO4 battery and is using it directly in tunnel construction.
Gufler Metall was founded in 1991 by Gothard Gufler and converted into a limited partnership in 2008. Today, twelve skilled workers are employed in the fields of hydraulic steel construction, steel construction, welding of pressure pipelines and locksmith work. The company is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 and is involved in numerous power plant projects in South Tyrol. With over 30 years of experience, Gufler Metall is an established name in the South Tyrolean hydropower sector.
Emission-free tunnel construction
Exhaust gases are a real problem, especially in tunnel construction. Diesel soot is harmful to the respiratory tract, ventilation systems have to be dimensioned at great expense and the noise in enclosed spaces is considerable. The ARI 458 produces neither exhaust fumes nor particulate matter and runs much more quietly than a combustion engine. For the workers on the construction site, this is a noticeable difference in everyday life.
The XL platform provides around 2.05 m² of loading space, enough for steel components, welding equipment and other tools. The payload of up to 648 kg covers the daily requirements on a power plant construction site, and the compact dimensions help where space is tight in the tunnel.
Two metal construction companies rely on the ARI 458
Gufler Metall is not the first company to rely on an ARI 458 for this hydroelectric power plant project. Another metal construction company is already using an ARI electric transporter on the same construction site. The fact that two specialist companies are using the same vehicle concept independently of each other speaks for the practicality of the ARI 458 in commercial use.
In addition to zero emissions, operating costs also play a role: the ARI 458 consumes around 7 kWh per 100 kilometers, which corresponds to less than 2 euros in electricity costs. A fraction of what a comparable diesel van would cost.
Refurbished used vehicle with new LiFePO4 battery
The vehicle from Gufler Metall is not a new vehicle, but an ARI used vehicle that has undergone the 100-point used vehicle check from ARI Motors before delivery. All technical and safety-relevant components are checked, wearing parts are replaced if necessary and the vehicle is completely overhauled.
In addition, a new LiFePO4 battery was installed. This means that the vehicle is practically on a par with a new car in terms of range and battery life, but at a significantly lower price. LiFePO4 batteries are particularly cycle-resistant, durable and thermally stable, which makes them well suited for tough construction site use.
Sustainable solution for tradespeople and construction companies
For tradesmen and construction companies looking for a solid electric transporter without paying the full new price, the used vehicle program from ARI Motors is a real option. Each vehicle is refurbished, fitted with a new battery if required and can even be combined with a customized body. Reuse not only saves money, but also resources.
However, used ARI vehicles are not always immediately available, as many customers use their electric vans so intensively that returns rarely come onto the market. Anyone interested should therefore enquire promptly.
Suitable for use at the hydropower plant
It is fitting that an electrically powered vehicle is being used in the construction of a hydroelectric power plant of all places. South Tyrol generates around 4,000 GWh of green electricity from hydropower every year. The electricity that powers the ARI 458 can therefore come from the very sources whose expansion the vehicle is currently supporting.
For Gufler Metall, the ARI 458 flatbed XL is above all a practical work tool: reliable, inexpensive to maintain and suitable for the requirements of tunnel construction.
Are you interested in an ARI electric transporter as a new or certified used vehicle? Call us on 0341 978 56 933 or configure your vehicle directly online.
