Volvo’s Drive to Electric – Your Questions Answered
In 2019, Volvo Construction Equipment became the first construction equipment manufacturer to commit to going fully electric on two full ranges of compact equipment. For those looking to be among the first to run this equipment, our compact electric excavators and wheel loaders are available in many markets worldwide, and you can even customize your ideal electric machine with our online build-and-quote tool.
Our first two models were unveiled at Bauma 2019 in Munich, Germany. The electric ECR25 compact excavator and L25 compact wheel loader run on lithium-ion batteries and have zero exhaust emissions. They also have significantly lower noise levels, reduced energy costs, improved efficiency and less maintenance requirements compared with their conventional counterparts.
Why is Volvo CE making this change?
The world is moving toward a more environmentally conscious, sustainable future — and that includes the construction industry. In fact, fifteen states and the District of Columbia have already pledged to have 100% of all new medium- and heavy-duty truck sales be emissions-free by 2050. There have been many emissions incentives and zero-emissions levels like this set for on-road vehicle improvements, and the off-road industry is now following suit. As part of the Volvo Group, which includes Volvo Trucks, we’re uniquely positioned to be able to draw upon this collective expertise to bring this technology to the construction industry.
Additionally, we see demand from our customers to meet their own self-set lower emissions goals. Volvo now gives them options to help reach these targets with our compact electric excavators, wheel loaders and asphalt compactor.
As far as the compact line goes, this move positions Volvo CE as the first construction equipment manufacturer to commit to an electric future for its compact machine range — stopping new diesel engine development of mini excavator models globally from the EC15 to EC27 and compact wheel loaders from the L20 to L28. That’s a bold decision, made in step with a challenge from our Volvo CE President, Melker Jernberg, to stir the market for zero exhaust emission compact equipment, where we see the most potential for acceptance and application. And while some competitor manufacturers offer electric or hybrid models, none match Volvo’s level of development commitment and scale of the announced product range.
For electric equipment to become the norm, machines need to be designed and proven to overcome the main concerns voiced by skeptical buyers around energy capacity, performance and price. These first battery-electric models are already changing mindsets by bringing our customers along every step in this electromobility journey.
Frequently Asked Questions about our electric construction equipment
In terms of power and performance, how do these first electric compact machines compare to traditional combustion engine machines?
Volvo L25 Electric Compact Wheel Loader and EC25 Electric Mini Excavator
The electric versions have performance levels similar to their conventional diesel equivalents so customers will get the same performance in more efficient, environmentally friendly machines. For example, the ECR25 Electric excavator has a digging depth of 9 ft, 1 in (2.76 m) and a breakout force of 5,020 lbf (22.3 kN). The L25 Electric wheel loader has a full-turn tipping load of 3.7 tons (3.35 metric tons), a dump height of 8.2 ft (2.5 m) and a 2.2-ton (2-metric ton) payload fork load capacity.
It’s not just the specs, though. Customers using these on their jobsites report that the machines are meeting or even exceeding their expectations. You can read more in our blog post comparing electric and diesel machine performance.
What are the battery and charging specifications on Volvo electric machines?
The ECR25, ECR18 and EC18 electric compact excavators are fitted with lithium-ion batteries and one electric motor that replaces the diesel engine to power the hydraulics in order to move the machines and attachments. The batteries store enough electric energy to power the machines for a typical duty cycle in their most common applications, such as landscaping and utility work.
The L25 and L20 electric compact wheel loaders also use lithium-ion batteries, which allows for similar operation in the machines’ regular applications, including light infrastructure work, gardening, landscaping and agriculture. Both loaders incorporate two dedicated electric motors, one for the drivetrain and one for the hydraulics. Decoupling the subsystems has led to higher efficiency in both the systems and the entire machine.
All of these machines have onboard chargers that enable overnight charging via a 240 V electrical socket and the machines will be fully charged in 6 hours. In addition, an off-board DC fast charger can be used to charge them. For example, with the fast-charge option, the ECR25 can be at 80% power within one hour of charge time, and the L25 within two hours of charge time. Check out our electric machine charging FAQs article for more details.
When will they be offered in North America?
The ECR25 Electric excavator and the two electric wheel loaders are already here, with the first deliveries occurring in summer 2022. A reservation tool is available for the EC18 Electric and ECR18 Electric excavators, and those deliveries are expected to begin soon.
The DD25 Electric compactor will initially be available in North America, and we will begin taking orders in late 2023 with first deliveries in early 2024. It will roll out to other select markets after that.
These machines are designed for any state or local government fleet that has set or is anticipated to set electric vehicle targets or clean air regulations. They’re also ideal for companies with aggressive sustainability targets and those that need equipment to operate in low-noise or zero-emissions environments. As a result, we’re seeing interest from people across the construction industry and in even other applications like farming, zoos and more.
How will the price of electric machines compare to their diesel counterparts?
The total cost of ownership (TCO) should be considered when evaluating the actual price of the new electric models, largely around fuel savings, less scheduled maintenance and extended component life. Even though electric machines might not be cheaper in terms of purchase price, they add more value for our customers. They allow them to bid on emission-restricted jobs, work during the night in densely populated areas and work indoors, as well as in many other niche applications unsuitable for conventional diesel machines.
What other electric construction equipment is Volvo CE working on?
The World’s First ‘Free Emission’ Quarry
We’re conducting extensive research and product development on a range of hybrid and battery-electric solutions, some demonstrated in the recent Electric Site project with Skanska, which saw a 98%reduction in carbon emissions. The Electric Site showed that electrification is beneficial, but also possible with different machine types and sizes using different technologies.
It’s clear that our industry is in a period of rapid change. But for many machine sizes, applications and markets, the diesel engine will remain the most appropriate power source for a number of years, and we will continue to manufacture diesel machines of all sizes. Therefore, the decision on what you use — diesel powered or electric — rests with you.
How to get Volvo electric construction equipment today
If you’re looking to be among the first to own and operate an electric machine, you can contact your local Volvo dealer to find the model that’s right for you. On our website, you can select the model you’re interested in and use our Build & Quote tool to select options and financing and see a suggested retail price.