Japan launch of Volvo CE electric machines generates strong interest

The first two Volvo CE electric machines to launch in Japan are the L25 Electric compact wheel loader and ECR25 Electric compact excavators. Both machines were unveiled to visitors at the 5th Construction & Survey Productivity Improvement Expo (CSPI-EXPO) held in Tokyo this past May. Over 100 guests, including media, show attendees, Volvo CE leadership and local partner companies gathered to witness the landmark event.

Yamazaki Machinery, Volvo CE’s Japanese distributor, is providing full sales and service support for the two new electric models in addition to the full range of the company’s machines it currently supports. The first machines have already been delivered to Japanese construction equipment rental giant Nishio Rent All, an affiliate company of Yamazaki Machinery.

Senior representatives from Volvo CE at the event included Tomas Kuta, President of Region Asia; Roger Tan, Head of Market Southeast Asia; and Shoji Isamu, Head of Market Japan. They were joined by leadership from Yamazaki Machinery and Nishio Rent All for the unveiling of the new machines at the Volvo CE booth, as well as the subsequent machine handover and press conference.

Shoji Isamu, Head of Market Japan, said the introduction of electric machines to Japan from Volvo CE aligns with the country's own ambitions around emissions reductions.

“Our company wants to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, which includes reducing emissions from our product line by 30% by 2030 as part of our commitment to Science Based Targets. Introducing these advanced machines to Japan is a significant part of our strategy for Asia in reaching our goals. We expect interest to be strong and are already having several positive discussions. The Japanese Government has also announced its plans to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2035, and switching to zero-emission construction equipment can contribute to this. We share the same urgency and social responsibility as the Japanese Government.”

Technical details

The ECR25 Electric compact excavator is a 2.6-2.8 t excavator with a 22.3 kN breakout force. It is equipped with an on-board charger for general charging, an external quick charger (optional for indoor/outdoor specifications), and a 20 kWh battery array, allowing for up to 4 hours of effective work per charge.

There’s also an excavation bucket (0.092 m³), a standard arm, shared piping for attachments, spare piping, piping for quick couplers, and a ROPS standard canopy. Furthermore, there are no exhaust gases generated by the drive system and very little vibration and noise, resulting in a very low environmental impact on the operator, surrounding workers, and neighbors. Operator comfort is improved even further because there are no fumes, soot, or excessive noise from the electric operating system. And unlike a diesel excavator, the ECR25 Electric consumes almost no energy while idling thanks to an inbuilt stop/start system, so it only consumes energy during the minutes it works. It has a slightly higher operating weight than its diesel equivalent, but then also delivers more continuous motor power.

The other electric machine is the L25 Electric compact wheel loader, which features a 2.1 t payload, a maximum speed of 20kph, outstanding lifting height and 100% parallel movements. The machine comes with a 40kWh battery pack and is expected to deliver up to 8 hours of active work per charge. Again, operator comfort is enhanced by near-silent operation, and there’s also an automatic park brake with hill-hold functionality and a range of customizable work modes. Like its electric sibling, the ECR25 Electric, the L25 Electric has a slightly higher operating weight than its diesel equivalent, but then has a higher static tipping load too.

Both machines come with an integrated onboard, standard charger, and a range of optional, standalone fast chargers for both indoor and outdoor use. Interested Japanese companies can register their interest via an online portal to get personalized information on the new machines.

Discover more about Volvo machines and services at www.volvoce.com/asia.