Volvo Construction Equipment is taking reservations for its three newest electric vehicles, with deliveries expected in 2023. The company also made several sustainability-related announcements.
Its newest electric vehicles are the:
- L20 Electric compact wheel loader
- EC18 and ECR18 electric compact excavators
Volvo CE is also bringing its 22-ton EC230 electric excavator to North America for demos. The machine, which is not yet commercially available, is an advancement in the electrification of larger construction equipment.
“Fleets need cleaner solutions to meet growing regulations and societal demand, and now we have five electric compact models for our customers to choose from," said Stephen Roy, president, Region North America at Volvo CE.
Volvo CE's newest electric equipment joins the L25 Electric compact wheel loader and ECR25 Electric compact excavator—being delivered to North American customers in coming weeks.
The L20 Electric compact wheel loader features a 1.8-ton payload and a parallel-type linkage (Z-bar linkage optional), lifting height and 100% parallel movements. Expected to deliver up to six hours of active work per charge, the machine comes with a choice of battery pack (33kWh or 40kWh) and is designed to reduce maintenance by 30%.
Operator comfort features include near-silent operation, a new automatic park brake with hill-hold functionality and a range of work modes. The 1.8-ton EC18 and short-swing ECR18 Electric compact excavators provide low noise, low vibration and more responsive hydraulics due to the immediate torque. Both deliver four hours of active work per charge (depending on the environment and task), and the ECR18’s ultra-short tail radius works well in confined spaces.
The three machines come with an integrated on-board charger, allowing them to charge from zero to 100% in less than six hours using the J1772 AC Charging cable on a 240-volt outlet, the same plug and charging system on a typical electric vehicle. With an optional off-board fast charger, the L20 Electric will fully charge in under just two hours, while the ECR18 Electric and EC18 Electric will charge up to 80% in under one hour, the company said.
Volvo CE also made company announcements regarding its commitments to sustainability.
“As the world moves toward a more environmentally conscious future, the Volvo CE team has worked for decades to become a leader in the construction industry’s electrification journey,” said Ray Gallant, vice president, product management and productivity, region Americas at Volvo CE. “Producing equipment that can fill the growing need for sustainability solutions for construction companies, government fleets, food and agriculture businesses and more is something we are very proud of.” Other recent and upcoming developments:
- Volvo CE is working on an app called the Electric Machine Management Application (EMMA) that will provide real-time insight into a electric machines, including battery status and geographic location.
- Volvo CE recently launched its CO₂ Reduction Program to help customers tackle their carbon footprints.
- Volvo Group unveiled the world’s first vehicle made of fossil-free steel, a load carrier made in a Volvo CE facility; and the company continues its efforts to eventually use fossil-free steel in all products.
- Volvo CE and Volvo Group continue to play an active part in advancing the charging capabilities of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The recently-created Volvo Energy business is tasked with leading these efforts.
