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Electric excavator in building and demolition
Volvo electric construction equipment
Electric building and demolition

Electric construction equipment for building and demolition

Electric construction equipment offers great advantages for the building and demolition sectors. With zero exhaust emissions, lower operating and maintenance costs, high performance and near silence, electric machines empower customers to achieve a more sustainable operation while maintaining the high levels of productivity they need to keep up with demand.

The built environment is responsible for 40% of annual global emissions – which means that almost half of all emissions around the world are not just linked to the everyday running of buildings, but linked to the buildings’ entire lifespan including their construction and demolition too. That is why making the switch to electric, for residential, commercial or industrial building and demolition, is a great step towards fossil free construction.

The volume of tasks across this sector are numerous. Therefore so too are the possibilities for electric applications.

In building, whether it is land clearing, excavation and site preparation or alterations, remodelling and repairs for houses, commercial buildings, hospitals, schools or museums, electric construction equipment has the power to complete these versatile job to a high standard with a reduced impact on the environment.

And in demolition, electric machines pack a real punch when it comes to the tougher side of construction – from dismantling and demolishing housing, facilities or large infrastructure all the way through to loading debris and restoring the site.

From compact equipment with the nimble frame and zero fumes needed to work peacefully inside buildings or tight alleyways, through to the larger electric machines with the strength to achieve a productive day’s work, there is a solution available to fit all needs. Especially when combined with a range of flexible charging options to suit the availability of power on site.

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Electric construction at Slakthusområdet

When Stockholm City made a demand for a 100% fossil fuel free site in the transformation of a 100-year-old site called Slakthusområdet in Sweden, Volvo CE came with the solutions. A 23-ton Volvo EC230 Electric excavator with zero exhaust emissions supported the excavation work moving thousands of cubic metres of soil and rock. Generally the machine had enough power to last a full day with charging taking place overnight, but when a top-up was required, the customer took advantage of fast charging via a Volvo PU500 mobile power unit during work breaks.

EC230 Electric at fossil fuel free site

Working in an urban environment

With low noise and zero exhaust emissions, electric solutions are ideal to help reduce the environmental impact of construction in an urban application, like Slakthusområdet. At the halfway point of the project, 1,808 tons of CO2 have been reduced - the same as is produced every year by about 180 Swedish people. The use of electric equipment accounts for 421 tons. The mid-way results of this project show that low carbon construction sites are not just for the future, they are already here in action today helping to deliver a more pleasant, productive and sustainable built environment.

Going electric with Stockholm City
Partnership with Stockholm city, Volvo CE and Skanska

Partnership is the new leadership

It is clear that we need to work together to be successful in the electric transition. In this pioneering fossil fuel free site, Stockholm City, Volvo CE and contractor Skanska prove this point and set a benchmark for others to follow. It is a partnership that puts sustainability at its heart from the very start - with tender requirements that not only insisted on a 100% fossil fuel free site, but also 10% electric operation and the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO100) for other working machines as well as for transport to and from the site. It is hoped that other municipalities will be encouraged by this approach and seek to ensure that the building sector takes advantage of innovative solutions like electric construction equipment to reduce its carbon impact.

Sustainable construction with electric mid-size excavator
Working together
Driving the transition towards more sustainable construction

Setting the standard for electric construction at Östersund

One of the best ways to ensure electric construction equipment is prioritised in the building sector is when it is listed as a requirement in public procurement. Take for example the construction of a new preschool in Östersund, Sweden, where the local municipality included a goal for 95% of all machines and tools used on site to be electric. Including this zero emission target in the bidding process resulted in a close collaboration between project partners to make this happen. This one pledge is estimated to save around 64 tons of CO2 emissions on this project.

Building a battery factory in Mariestad

Manufacturing battery cells on a large scale is a key part of Volvo Group’s electromobility strategy - to ensure it has the power needed to deliver holistic electric transport and infrastructure solutions. Starting as the project means to go on, Volvo’s electric construction equipment is helping to build this new battery plant in Mariestad, Sweden. It is an important step to meet growing demand for high-performing batteries and support the company’s overall ambition for truly sustainable transport solutions.

Battery plant in Mariestad

Working indoors to convert a brick factory in Romania

An L25 Electric wheel loader has been working to transform a brick factory into a wood furniture factory. Due to a requirement to work both inside and outside the factory, the customer in Romania chose the zero exhaust emission wheel loader to carry out a variety of tasks. The machine’s lack of exhaust fumes and near silence made it an ideal solution for the supplying of raw materials and handling large finished products. With low maintenance and reduced operating and production costs, the L25 Electric was not only a more sustainable choice, but a more cost-effective one.

Developing a furniture factory using electric

Powerful demolition with electric machines

Italy

Demolition in Florence

The ECR18 Electric excavator worked on material handling, excavation and small demolition tasks inside the Palazzo Vecchietti in Florence, Italy. With excellent hydraulics and break out force it delivered the same performance as its diesel variant.

Demolition in Italy
Texas

Demolition in Texas

A family run business wanted a demolition machine that could deliver zero exhaust emissions. With a diesel machine, they would need to stop production every hour or so to reduce CO2 levels. But with the EC18 Electric excavator, Robles1 could operate all day long.

Demolition in Texas
Electric demolition in Romania
Romania

Demolition in Romania

A simple and intuitive charging process enabled demolition customer Imperial PG to keep the L25 Electric up and running for as long as they required - carrying out a variety of tasks with ease, both inside and outside and helping to make the switch to electric easy to integrate.

Zero emission construction
Zero emission construction
Why go electric?

Benefits of electric within construction and demolition

Not only are the specifications of an electric machine almost identical to its diesel variant, but there are a number of other advantages that make them the ideal solutions for building and demolition. Electric construction equipment delivers zero exhaust emissions, near silence and low vibrations - making them perfect for both indoors and outdoors, as well as in urban environments or outside of working hours. What is more, their high performance guarantees optimum productivity when supported by a range of flexible charging solutions.

Discover more benefits with electric construction

Charging in construction and demolition

In cities, access to electricity is often not a problem with the ability to power up electric construction equipment direct from the grid via an electrical utility box. But for more remote building and demolition sites - or where there is a weak power supply - it is possible to keep electric operations moving through the use of mobile power banks for both large and compact equipment. Easy to move and place exactly where it needs to be, they provide a steady charge for any application.

Charging construction equipment

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Electric construction equipment - for all applications

Waste and recycling

Electric waste and recycling

The circular nature of waste and recycling makes it a perfect segment to introduce electric construction equipment. Often confined to small environments, it is possible to complete the versatile assortment of tasks in this application with ease, building an even more sustainable approach into the segment.

Electric waste and recycling
Recreation

Electric recreation

The enjoyment of being out in nature or taking leisure time need not be spoilt by noise and fumes, when you swap electric in for diesel. Battery powered tools and equipment are increasingly common as the industry looks to carry out work without impacting the environment.

Electric recreation
Utility

Electric utility works

Zero exhaust emissions and near silence are ideal for urban construction applications - creating a more peaceful atmosphere for those working or passing nearby. As cities look to act on their sustainability targets, electric construction equipment is the answer for utility works in urban environments.

Electric utility works
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