Q&A: How Construction is Writing Electric Vehicles Into Its Environmentally Conscious Future

The industry is taking baby steps toward a more environmentally conscious, sustainable future. As more emissions incentives and zero-emissions levels are set for on-road vehicle improvements, the off-road industry is following suit.

Electromobility In Construction Expert Interview 01
Volvo Group

The Volvo Group sat down with Lars Arnold, electromobility product manager for Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) North America, to get answers to some of the top questions out there related to the emergence of electric equipment on construction jobsites. Here’s what he had to share.

HOW IS SUSTAINABILITY CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY?

While environmental requirements are more common in Europe, they’re starting to gain ground here in North America. More and more local and state/provincial governments are adopting clean air policies, so if contractors want to win these bids, they need to prove that they’re working with equipment with reduced or zero emissions.

Also, some jobsites simply require reduced or zero emissions — indoor construction jobs are a great example. Ventilation poses a problem as diesel-powered equipment emits exhaust fumes. Indoor projects can now benefit from the low noise and zero emissions electric machines offer.

AS THE INDUSTRY MOVES TO MORE ELECTRIC MACHINE PRODUCTION, WHAT ISLars Arnold, Electromobility Product Manager for Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) North AmericaLars Arnold, Electromobility Product Manager for Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) North AmericaVolvo Group A TOP CONCERN YOU THINK CONTRACTORS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING AN ELECTRIC MACHINE?

For most contractors who consider the move to electric machines, the biggest challenge is simply a change in mindset for electric equipment. Customers must have an adequate charging infrastructure in place to ensure machines operate as planned. While a 110-volt set up will charge the units over time, a 240-volt setup is necessary to charge the machines quickly.

And for remote jobsites, a solar array may be necessary to provide power when an electric grid isn’t an option.

PERFORMANCE IS LIKELY TO BE ANOTHER QUESTION PEOPLE HAVE. HOW DO THE ELECTRIC MACHINES COMPARE WITH DIESEL MACHINES?

Power and performance are what make the Volvo CE compact electric machines such great options. Our ECR25 Electric excavator has the exact same digging depth, dump height, break out and tear out forces, and dimensions as its diesel equivalent. The L25 Electric wheel loader has a few slight differences from the diesel version, but nearly all of those are in the electric machine’s favor. Customers will get the performance they expect from these machines. 

DO ELECTRIC MACHINES UTILIZE THE SAME NUMBER OF HOURS AS DIESEL MODELS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF WORK?

With diesel construction equipment, operating time is defined by the engine run hours, and a lot of those hours are counted while the machine is at idle. With electric machines, as soon as the operator stops working (for example, a landscaper waiting for pipe to be placed in a trench he’s just dug), the electric motors turn off within a short time period. During this time, no operating hours are being accumulated. So over time, jobs can rack up 10,000 hours on a diesel machine where they might only add 6,000 or 7,000 hours to a comparable electric machine.

Latest