Reliable infrastructure supported by electric construction

A pioneering partnership between Volvo CE, Tarmac - a CRH company - and UK local authorities, including Hartlepool Borough Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, proved the potential to reduce carbon emissions in highway maintenance work and in doing so developed a blueprint for the future. A combination of low carbon materials and techniques, as well as the use of exhaust emission free construction equipment helped to cut carbon by up to 80% compared to projects using traditional methods, and without using carbon offsetting.

Three electric machines from Volvo CE were responsible for working on the maintenance of a highway in Durham, UK. The L120H Electric Conversion wheel loader, L25 Electric compact wheel loader and EC230 Electric mid-size excavator were tested over three separate days. Also on site was a Volvo FM Electric truck from Volvo Trucks and an all-electric ready mix concrete mixer from Renault Trucks. The collective power of reliable electric solutions showed that it is possible to do more and achieve more when we ensure an holistic electric ecosystem is provided, to help cut carbon emissions across the board. The learnings from this project will inevitably inform further decarbonization across the local and strategic road networks.

This pioneering initiative demonstrates what is possible already today and creates a new benchmark for the future of road maintenance. What is more it demonstrates the strength of an holistic end-to-end partnership - not only with leading industry players and forward-thinking customers, but with municipalities too, to drive sustainable progress in hard-to-abate areas. It is part of a strategic partnership that Volvo CE holds with CRH to help them lead by example in the implementation of electrification, charging infrastructure, low carbon fuels and renewable energy.

The 20-tonne L120H Electric Conversion wheel loader is in hot demand in the Netherlands and has been working to support KWS, a Dutch company which specializes in sustainable infrastructure projects. The mid-size marvel has proved it has the power and performance to move material and complete a variety of other road and infrastructure tasks but with the added benefit of zero exhaust emissions, near silence and more comfortable operation. With increased use of mid-size electric machines, a reduced carbon footprint need not compromise on high productivity.

The City of Helsinki is building a bicycle and pedestrian road just beside a subway trail. As part of the requirements for its construction, the city included an electric compact excavator as a demand, but offered a bonus if a bigger electric excavator could be used. Enter the 23-tonne EC230 Electric. Not only is it able to deliver the zero exhaust emissions required, but contractor Tieluiska has been very satisfied with its performance. It has been able to dig solid moraine and huge rocks and what is more, it has been able to do so with a much cheaper operation than diesel.

An EC230 Electric mid-size excavator proved it had the power to complete the toughest of tasks when supported with solid planning and reliable charging infrastructure. The 23-tonne zero exhaust emission machine was the first step in customer Chepstow’s long-term objective to move away from diesel towards electric operation. Over seven weeks the machine carried out tasks ranging from loading the crusher to moving and breaking up large rocks in this large-scale public transport interchange transformation for Bristol Airport.

The distribution of our compact construction machines from one of our facilities in Belley, France, benefited from a pioneering electric shuttle service to help reduce CO₂ emissions during the first leg of their road journey to customers. In a successful trial, Volvo CE machines were loaded onto an 100% electric Volvo FH Electric truck to be taken to nearby Lyon, from where they would continue their onward journey. It proved that by putting to work zero exhaust emission technology in a smart way, we can deliver solutions that take us a step beyond the initial introduction of electric vehicles.

We are partnering with the World Rallycross (World RX) Championship to help deliver a more sustainable way of working across both motorsport and construction. Volvo’s zero exhaust emission solutions, such as the L25 Electric, ECR25 Electric and L120 Electric, are working to transform these sectors by ensuring a lower carbon operation in the building, design and maintenance of these world class race tracks. Not only are these electric solutions proving to have a lighter footprint but they are also up to the task of maintaining all the thrill and excitement of racing that is matched by the electric rallycross cars themselves.

We may not be able to have a say on whether or not the vehicles driving on our roads are electric, but we can help with the machines helping to build them. Electric construction equipment offers so many advantages to road and infrastructure projects - not least helping to decarbonize a segment that is known for high levels of carbon emissions. Electric wheel loaders and excavators can have an important role in also driving down noise pollution on these projects, creating a much more pleasant environment for those working and passing nearby.

Road and infrastructure projects may benefit from a reliable and readily available power source nearby - such as for inner city maintenance jobs or street clearing - making it easy to just plug in a fast or slow charger to power up as and when required. However it is also likely that these projects can take place in areas where there is no existing infrastructure or a weak power supply. Here, customers can take advantage of mobile power banks such as the PU40 for compact machines or the PU500 for larger equipment.