Faster, safer next-gen Volvo crawler excavator debuts

Making its debut at the recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show in Las Vegas, Volvo Construction Equipment’s (Volvo CE) new pre-production EC500 excavator will succeed the Volvo EC480E.

The 50-tonne excavator has been built for a range of applications from building construction to road construction, and from quarrying to agriculture. The machine will initially be made available in regulated markets including North America, Europe and Korea.

“We’re excited to share the first look at our next generation excavator,” said President of Volvo CE North America, Stephen Roy.

“A pre-production model, there will be some differences to the appearance of the EC500 that will be available to our customers, but it gives an insight into the future, with enhanced safety, operability and productivity.”

The biggest improvement on the new-generation EC500, according to Volvo CE, is in the cabin design and styling, with new layout and features including high-definition co-pilot screen, keyless engine start, wired and wireless smartphone charging and new work mode switch.

Taking safety to the next level, a new addition – Volvo Smart View with Obstacle Detection – offers a 360-degree view thanks to an improved camera system and new radar detection system which provides automatic alerts when the excavator approaches any obstacle, identifying and classifying them as an object or human, and allowing the operator to take remedial action.

Other new safety features include three-point access guard rails and a foldable top handrail for transportation.

A range of machine options are available on the Volvo EC500 to help operators complete their tasks faster, more easily and more safely. These include the operator coaching app, Volvo Dig Assist, which is a suite of tools designed to help deliver excavator accuracy by eliminating the need to manually mark out a site and check depths and grades. That and another option, Volvo Lift Assist, are accessible via the Co-Pilot screen in the cab.

Volvo Active Control, an automated grading system and part of the Dig Assist suite of tools, will also be available for the first time on an excavator of this size.

The upgrades don’t stop there. New electric joysticks in the machine give the operator even more control over the hydraulic system.

The hydraulic pumps can be operated together as well as virtually disconnected, allowing the operator to control the boom without affecting track speed, for a safer and smoother operation. This also shortens cycle times and improves fuel efficiency, Volvo CE said, delivering higher productivity and performance.

The Comfort Driver Control feature allows the operator to move forwards, backwards and steer with the joysticks instead of using the foot pedals or hand levers.

Each operator can set up their own hydraulic settings based upon their preferences and the application they are working on and save them in Co-Pilot so they can be quickly and easily accessed for future sessions.

Volvo CE said the EC500 has increased cooling capacity which allows it to handle the most extreme weather conditions. It now also has longer service intervals for the hydraulic oil and filter – from 2000 to 3000 hours – bringing both cost savings from reduced maintenance requirements and increased uptime.

Manufactured at Volvo CE’s crawler excavator plant in Changwon, Korea, production of the EC500 will begin in the last quarter of 2023 and the machine will be available in select markets.

Further models of this next-generation excavator will follow.