Volvo Electric Construction Equipment

Charging compact construction equipment

Flexibility for charging compact equipment

Sustainable worksites need zero-emission solutions and our large range of compact equipment provide a clean and productive alternative to diesel. But having the means to power your electric vehicles is essential for your operations. That is why we provide suitable and reliable charging solutions, with a variety of options to suit almost any site, no matter where they are.

Whether it is one of our electric compact wheel loaders - the L20 Electric or L25 Electric - or one of our electric compact excavators - the EC18 Electric, ECR18 Electric or ECR25 Electric - there are a variety of charging options available to you. We have both outdoor and indoor chargers that ensure your batteries provide a lasting performance, and we have made it simple to understand the charging time needed to get each electric compact machine ready for work.

Access to an electricity grid is also no problem with a compact, portable and easy-to-use PU40 mobile power bank for compact construction equipment. No matter where you are working - whether it is remote location or somewhere with a weak grid access - and no matter which brand of machine, you can always be sure of a reliable power source to keep your electric solutions up and running for longer.

Discover here the best charging fit for your needs.

Options for 48V chargers for compact machines

Charging cable for construction equipment

Overnight charging cable 11kW AC Type 2

This charging cable is to be used for overnight charging after the workday. This options comes together with the machine, along with a variety of adapters covering all your needs. It can also be ordered separately if required.

Mobile Volvo PU40 power unit

The PU40 has a battery capacity of 40kW and gives the possibility to charge your compact electric equipment and electric tools anywhere- even at jobsites with little or no grid connection. The PU40 weighs 900kg and is easily transported. When charging is required move the power unit to a location with grid connection and charge using either a 17kW DC fast charger or with a maximum AC input of 6kW.

9.6kW DC Fast Charger for indoor use

This is the fast DC charging station option with DIN plug, complying with Volvo CE machines’ unique protocol for indoor use.

Most powerful indoors

17.3kW DC Fast Charger for indoor use

This 17.3kW DC Fast charger is a faster alternative to the 9.6kW option. It comes with DIN plug and complies with Volvo CE machines’ unique 48V protocol for indoor use.

Most sold fast charger

17.3kW DC Fast Charger for outdoor use

This 17.3kW DC outdoor charger with DIN plug, complies with Volvo CE’s unique protocol and can withstand extreme outdoor temperatures. It is a "plug & play", just plug the cable into a 32A CEE socket.

Charging time for electric compact machines

	Overnight charging cable 11 kW AC	DC fast charger 9,6 kW	DC fast charger 17,3 kW	PU40 DC Output 17 kW	PU40 AC Output 2,3 kW
EC18 20kWh	6h	2h	1h 15min	1h 15 min	8h 30 min
ECR18 16kWh	5h	1h 45min	1h	1h	6h 30 min
ECR25 20kWh	5h 30min	1h 45min	1h	1h	7h 30 min
L20 33kWh	5h	3h	1h 45min	1h 45 min	11h 30 min
L20 40kWh	6h	3h 30min	2h	2h	14h 30 min
L25 40kWh	6h	3h 30min	2h	2h	14h 30 min

How does a mobile power unit for construction machines work?

Slow charging the unit

The power unit can be charged on a slow continuous power via a 6kW AC charging cable. This is the most cost effective method for charging up the power unit during off-peak periods. In this way customers can save up energy within the unit to charge their electric machines during peak times, when power direct from the grid is more expensive.

Fast charging the unit

An alternative charging solution if a speedier option is required is the 17kW DC charger. This enables the power unit to be fully powered up in less time than the 6kW slow charger.

Fast charging the machines

Thanks to the integrated 17kW DC fast charger, the PU40 can recharge Volvo compact electric excavators in as little as an hour, or recharge Volvo compact wheel loaders in two hours. Furthermore the solution is totally brand agnostic, meaning it is possible to charge non-Volvo machines and other electrical equipment.

Slow charging the machines

A 3kW AC charger is also available for a slow re-charge of Volvo - and non Volvo - machines, such as the EC18 Electric, ECR18 Electric and ECR25 Electric excavators or the L20 Electric and L25 Electric wheel loaders.

Mobile charging made easy

Compact crawler excavators like our EC18 Electric, ECR18 Electric and ECR25 Electric excavators benefit particularly from the mobile PU40 power unit. That is because it is optimal to have chargers as close as possible to where machines are working. But sometimes that is not possible if there is not readily available grid access on site. In those cases, energy can be delivered direct to them instead via the PU40 power unit. What is more, the mobile charger can be easily transported by an L20 Electric or L25 Electric wheel loader with pallet forks, ensuring an even more sustainable approach.

Compact to move around

The compact size of the PU40 power unit makes it a convenient and flexible charging solution, that can be transported to almost any site. It has never been easier to secure round-the-clock power thanks to the PU40 power unit - which is easy to set up and maintain and safe to operate. Customers do not need to worry about where their electric machines are being put to work - just bring the power to where it’s needed.

Off-grid power supply

Specifically designed to deliver reliable, efficient and rapid charging for compact electric construction equipment, the transportable unit is perfect for use in locations where grid access is weak or limited. Furthermore it also offers the benefit of avoiding peak demand costs. After being powered up on a continuous low power charge, it can then supply high-power 48V fast charging whenever it is needed.

Cost-effective charging

It is possible to fully charge compact electric excavators in as little as an hour, and charge compact electric wheel loaders in just two hours. It is even possible to fast charge the compact machines at the same time as slow charging the power unit. Customers can therefore recharge their machines quickly and efficiently, safe in the knowledge that they are doing so in the most cost-effective way possible.

Charging the mobile power unit PU40

PU40 charging times

AC INPUT (Charging PU40 from grid)
Domestic socket	2,3kW	14h 30min
16A 1phase socket (blue)	3,68kW	9h 30min
16A 3phase socket (red)	6kW*	6h
32A 3phase socket (red)	6kW*	6h
DC INPUT (Charging PU40 from DC fast charger)
17 kW DC (Fast charger)	17kW	2h

* PU40 has 6kW on-board charger therefore 6kW is maximum charging power even when AC input power is 16A or 32A 400V (11 or 32kW)!

Volvo CE release 48V DC charging protocol

With no industry standard 48V DC charging solution currently available we have released our specifications in a bid to accelerate electrification and make it easier for customers with a multi-branded fleet to make the transition to electric machines.

Read more about our 48V charging protocol

Less runtime needed for same amount of work

You probably know exactly how many hours you usually work with your diesel machine. But shifting to electric requires a different way of looking at your operating time, because with electric construction equipment, the idling does not consume energy. Our electric construction equipment has Auto Electric Motor Shut Down. So when the operator stops running the machine the motor turns off, but as soon as the controls are moved, you get instant power once more. This not only ensures less wear and tear on the machine and connected parts but also meaning 8 hours with a diesel machine (with 35% idling) means a runtime of 5,2 hours with an electric. Good to remember when considering how much runtime you actually need during a day!

Discovering the best way to charge

Do you know when you need to use a slow charger and when to use a fast charger? Do you know the best way to fit charging into your work day. You can see the difference in charging time on your working conditions with our handy Charging and Runtime Calculator.

Charging and Runtime Calculator

Easy charging whatever your business

Utility works

While all worksites are different, for most projects in the utility segment, it is possible to achieve a full day’s work on one overnight charge of your electric machine. If not, customers can take advantage of a quick opportunity charge during breaks.

Landscaping

Across many landscaping jobsites, there is ready availability of single and three phase power outlets - essential for powering gardening tools that landscapers use every day. Electric compact equipment can therefore easily be introduced into this segment.

Electric landscaping

Ski resorts

One major advantage of using electric compact construction equipment on ski resorts is that you can often take advantage of a reliable power supply provided by the electricity from the cable car system, allowing you to charge as and when you need to.

Electric excavator in waste and recycling

Waste & recycling

In our experience of waste and recycling jobs, our electric compact machines are capable of holding enough power to get the job done each day and is also well matched in the power and performance of a diesel alternative.

Tips for prolonging the battery life

To maintain battery health, keep the electric machine at around a 90% state of charge and avoid charging up to 100% too often.
Do not let the battery level fall too low. If you are not using the machine for an extended period, keep it around 40-50%, as a fully charged battery has a higher self-discharge rate.
Try to use an AC slow charger at least once a week and let the battery management system (BMS) balance the battery packs.
Pre-condition your machine, particularly during cold winter months. This may involve warming up the battery pack or machine to an appropriate temperature range to enhance the efficiency of the charging process. By pre-conditioning, the battery’s internal temperature is brought to an ideal level, allowing for more effective charging and potentially extending overall battery life.

Running electric machines in cold weather

When operating in colder climates, you may be surprised to know that electric machines are actually a far better alternative to diesel engines, which are often harder to start and take longer to heat up. Our electric machines are capable of working in a temperature range from -10 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, exactly the same as an electric car. All that is required are a few simple tips to ensure optimum performance, such as charging indoors where possible, making use of our cab heater options and selecting the right attachments and accessories, such as snow tires.

Compact machines in cold weather

Electric construction starts here

Large electric excavator charged with a power unit

Charging larger construction machines

Larger construction machines have different technology and are used in a different way than compact machines. Therefore the charging needs and types of chargers required will also differ. To be able to work a full day for example with a mid-size electric excavator, you will probably need a fast charger. We got you covered!

Read more about charging larger electric construction equipment and start your journey towards a fossil-free worksite.

Charging larger construction machines

Short facts about chargers

You can charge up to 80% in 1–1.5 hours - enabling a full 8-hour working day on a single charge.
Our electric wheel loader models take twice as long to charge than our compact excavators, because they have double the number of batteries.
A range of charging options exists for both indoor and outdoor use depending on the situation.
Our chargers are not only easy to use, but easy to move. We can provide both AC, DC and portable charging solutions.