Municipalities driving the electric transformation

Volvo electric construction equipment

Municipalities going electric

Partnering for change with cities and municipalities

We believe that for a truly successful electric transformation within construction equipment to happen, we need all the enabling conditions to be in place. This means that we not only need reliable electric technology and charging solutions, but we also need elements like government incentives and regulations to encourage more widespread adoption.

The power of policymakers and municipalities to help drive this change cannot be underestimated. They play a vital role in driving awareness of the low carbon benefits of switching to electric construction equipment, namely reduced air pollution and a lower impact on the environment. But they can also help by demanding low carbon technologies like electric machines are put into the tenders for city construction jobs.

In addition, low emission zones, which serve to discourage the most polluting on-highway vehicles such as passenger cars, are now increasingly common across European cities. However, these zones do not currently include off-highway vehicles such as construction equipment. Policymakers can help to change this.

Furthermore, cities and municipalities often have their own sustainability targets which they need to meet. Electric construction equipment – alongside other zero exhaust emission vehicles like trucks and buses – can help achieve those climate goals.

Compact electric machines offer some of the biggest potential for cities to reduce their carbon impact. Their nimble size and low noise make them ideal for inner-city construction, utility works or building and demolition, both inside and outside. But there is also a role for larger mid-size electric machines to deliver on the more demanding earthmoving or site preparation jobs. When supported by reliable charging solutions, these electric machines provide cities and municipalities with the high levels of productivity they need with the benefit of a reduced carbon footprint.

But the speed at which electromobility is being adopted depends on several factors beyond the availability of more sustainable solutions. We need fossil-free energy, reliable infrastructure, incentives and regulations, as well as a solid supply network. If one of the elements in that coordinated effort is missing, we will not achieve a low carbon future.

The will among many municipalities is there. Take for example C40, a global network of nearly 100 city mayors worldwide, and Eurocities, a partnership of over 200 major European cities, which both call for collaboration to limit global warming and cut cities’ carbon emissions.

Our electric transformation cannot be achieved alone. Partnership with municipalities is essential to building the ecosystem and adoption we need for electric technologies to thrive.

Helsinki puts electric on tender requirements

Helsinki puts electric machines on tender requirements

The City of Helsinki is leading the way towards low-emission worksites. When building a bicycle and pedestrian road, they demanded a compact electric excavator but offered a bonus if a bigger electric excavator could be found. The 23-tonne EC230 Electric has not only excelled on this requirement, but has excelled in performance. And while only the first large electric excavator it has worked with, the city now has the confidence to work with more electric construction equipment in the future.

Green Deal: taking action against climate change

The City of Helsinki is part of a voluntary Green Deal commitment in Finland for emission free construction sites. Similar to the European Commission’s Green Deal, it sets an ambitious target towards reduced emissions by 2030. This voluntary Green Deal encourages players across construction, climate work, public procurement, municipalities and the Ministry of the Environment to work together to set standards towards fossil-free worksites. The agreement aims to reduce emissions from machines and construction sites and supports the implementation and site-specific application of environmental requirements that realize this goal. It is also a key contributor towards Finland’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2035.

Partnering up for the electric transformation

Juuso Luoto City of Helsinki

“The goal was for an 8.5-tonne machine. But we added a bonus if larger excavators could be found. With the exception of the bonus we offered, the cost for the electric machine was not bigger, the difference in price was marginal.”

Taneli Varis Motiva Oy

“The emission-free construction sites Green Deal is a voluntary agreement between the Ministry of the Environment and public procurers. It aims to reduce emissions from machines and construction sites over a period extending to 2030.”

Fredrik Tjernström Volvo CE

“Volvo Construction Equipment will bring the solutions. But is only by working together that we can make this way of working the new normal - and in doing so, truly address the climate challenge for real.”

Niina Reiju Volvo CE Finland

“The development is escalating so we encourage other cities to join the transformation towards electric construction machines”

EC230 Electric midsize excavator at Slakthusområdet

Bigger machines for the big jobs

The electrification of construction will help to achieve reduced greenhouse gas emissions, cut harmful noise and air pollution and play a central role in sustainable community building. As such, it is important to have solutions that are capable of carrying out a variety of different tasks and applications. Mid-size construction machines are general purpose tools that are ideal for work in cities and municipalities. Solutions like the EC230 Electric excavator and L120 Electric wheel loader have the high performing power to get the tough jobs done but with a reduced impact on the environment.

Electric midsize excavator working at Slakthusområdet

A Slakthusområdet success story

Partnership with municipalities towards fossil free construction sites really does work. The redevelopment of an old meat packing district called Slakthusområdet in the heart of Stockholm, Sweden, seemed like an ambitious project back in 2022 when it set out its aims towards fossil-fuel free construction equipment. But the results have not only proved how successful these solutions are in reducing emissions but also how easily they can be integrated into worksites.

Fossil-free worksite exceeds expectations

Carbon footprint reports for construction machines

Product carbon footprint reports

Lifecycle assessments

Lifecycle assessments to take action on carbon

To make changes towards a more sustainable future, you need to know where you are starting from. Volvo CE has revealed the most extensive catalogue of Product Carbon Footprint reports of its machines in order to provide customers with the data they need to then take action on carbon. Thanks to a detailed methodology, developed in-house by experts, there is true transparency on the carbon footprint of each Volvo product, from the beginning to the end of its lifecycle. In this way, you have a simple baseline to decarbonize. What is more, the reports reveal that electric machines are a more sustainable choice than diesel, even when you consider the whole lifecycle of its production, including battery manufacturing.

Access our product carbon footprint reports

Driving change with municipalities in Copenhagen

When 14 of the largest public developers in Denmark gathered to sign a letter of intent that would demand zero emission construction equipment be added to their tenders and projects, it set a benchmark for others to be inspired by and to follow. It signified that the shift to emission free machines can be accelerated through like-minded partnership and strong commitments. Zero exhaust emission construction will not only help lower CO2, but also bring greater public health benefits through reduced noise and air pollution. The letter of intent was the result of analysis by the Center for Offentlif-Privat Innovation (CO-PI) which revealed that switching from diesel to electric is good for the climate but also leads to fewer deaths and hospitalisations.

Cities achieving climate goals with electric construction machines

How can cities achieve their climate goals?

Cities have a huge responsibility to reduce their emissions - as one of the largest drivers of environmental impact globally. One of the best ways to take action is through the Science Based Targets initiative which provides a framework and guidance to make step changes towards climate neutrality. It is a collective commitment towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By first recognising the role that local and national governments, along with other stakeholders, play in driving change, only then can positive progress be made.

Electric worksite with Gothenburg and Volvo CE

Electric worksite shows what is possible with partnership

The benefits of collaboration across the value chain are proved in the Electric Worksite project - which brought together multiple players from manufacturing, energy and government sectors in Gothenburg, Sweden, to build a viable case for the use of electric construction equipment in city planning. The project tested the needs and opportunities for machines, energy supply and infrastructure in urban applications - with the result that fossil-fuel free construction is proved entirely possible through careful planning.

Viability of urban electric construction

Walking the talk with sustainability commitments

Cities are often at the front line of sustainability commitments, especially as increased urbanisation has an impact on our planet’s environmental stability. Those who do not join in the fight against climate change, will fall behind. It requires municipalities to take a holistic view of the whole electric ecosystem and consider every impact from technology and infrastructure through to energy supply and policy and incentives. It is clear therefore that those cities with climate targets need to have electric machines. With the building and construction sector representing some 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions, it is evident that zero exhaust emission solutions will go a long way to reducing construction’s carbon impact.

Cities making the electric transformation happen

Östersund

When the City of Östersund in Sweden began construction on a pre-school, it decided to aim for 95% of all machines and tools on site to be electric. It is another collaboration that sets the benchmark for climate requirements in public procurement.

Cologne

Electric machines are capable of achieving a high performance no matter the conditions - even when it comes to supporting the City of Cologne’s winter service provision. The L25 Electric wheel loader has been used to transport grit for roads.

Berlin

Berliner Stadtreinigung was an early adopter of electric machines when it chose nine Volvo L25 Electric wheel loaders to support in waste management. The solutions have helped maintain high productivity while reducing emissions.

Hanover

With an ambition to achieve climate neutrality by 2035, the City of Hanover in Germany understood that this goal could not be achieved without electric construction equipment playing a key part in decarbonising its municipal fleet.

Our electric construction equipment

EC230 Electric

ECR25 Electric

L120 Electric

L20 Electric

Zero emission construction

Why go electric?

Benefits of electric construction for municipalities

Benefits of going electric for municipalities

Reducing carbon emissions is not only good for the long-term future of our planet, but it also has a huge positive impact on public health thanks to improved air and water quality, as well as enhanced biodiversity. What is more, the near silence of electric equipment provides a more peaceful environment for those living and working nearby, ensuring added health benefits. Protecting urban environments in this way will have knock-on effects for the mental and physical well-being of cities’ inhabitants.

Discover more benefits with electric construction

Charging electric construction machines in cities

Charging in cities and municipalities

There is no one size fits all answer when it comes to charging solutions. That is why a range of versatile charging options can be considered - from fast chargers through to slower overnight chargers - so that you find the best solution to suit your requirements and power supply. Whether you have on-street access to EV charging points or you require mobile power units to support electric construction in places where there is weak grid access, there is a solution for you.

Charging construction equipment

Runtime calculator

Discover your electric runtime and which charger to choose

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Electric construction equipment - for all applications

Waste and recycling

Electric waste and recycling

Reduced fuel costs, carbon emissions and vibrations alongside improved efficiency and a more comfortable operation. These are some of the benefits customers in waste and recycling can expect when they make the switch to electric machines. Zero exhaust emission machines are a game changer for a sector that already puts circularity and sustainability at the heart of its day-to-day operations.

Electric waste and recycling

Agriculture

Electric agriculture

We benefit so much from our natural environment. Why not play our part to protect it too? That is why we see a huge potential in the adoption of electric construction equipment in agriculture. Not only can customers achieve the high productivity and performance they need across a variety of applications, but they do so with a reduced impact on the environment and the health and wellbeing of those working.

Electric agriculture

Utility

Electric utility works

Zero exhaust emissions and near silence are powerful motivators when it comes to considering a move to electric construction equipment - particularly at a time when cities are calling for lower carbon operation. Furthermore there is a huge incentive to move to electric construction for the installation of EV charging solutions, ensuring a more sustainable approach from the very beginning of these projects.

Electric utility works