First Volvo electric rigs break cover

Volvo Construction Equipment has unveiled the first of its electric-powered earthmovers at leading world construction machinery fair, bauma 2019 recently held in Munich, Germany.

The ECR25 excavator and L25 wheel loader are part of Volvo’s new line-up of electric, zero-emissions machines the brand will be launching officially in 2020, as part of its commitment to a cleaner future.

Volvo CE claims the new range will deliver zero exhaust emissions, significantly lower noise levels, reduced energy costs, improved efficiency and less maintenance requirements compared to their conventional counterparts.

From mid-2020, Volvo CE will begin to launch its range of electric compact excavators (EC15 to EC27) and wheel loaders (L20 to L28), stopping new diesel engine-based development of these models.

To make the ECR25 and L25 electric, the combustion engines have been replaced with lithium-ion batteries.

The ECR25 is fitted with lithium-ion batteries and one electric motor which powers the hydraulics to move the machine and the attachment. The machine’s batteries store enough electric energy to power the ECR25 for eight hours in its most common applications such as utility work, Volvo CE said.

The L25 has lithium-ion batteries which allow for eight hours of operation in the machine’s regular applications, including light infrastructure work, gardening, landscaping and agriculture.

The L25 also features 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, according to Volvo CE.

Both the ECR25 and L25 have onboard chargers that enable overnight charging via a regular household plug socket. A fast charging option, requiring more powerful grid access, will also be available.

“The ECR25 and L25 are revolutionary machines that demonstrate Volvo CE's commitment to future technology,” said Volvo CE’s Director of Electromobility and Automation, Scott Young.

“As the machines are electric, no particulate matter, nitrogen oxide or carbon dioxide are released into the environment. This, together with the fact that they have extremely low noise levels, makes them ideal for use in cities and densely populated areas.”

The ECR25 and L25 were released following positive reactions to Volvo CE’s electric concept machines unveiled in the past few years. This includes the prototype EX2 electric compact excavator and the prototype LX2 electric compact wheel loader.

“While the ECR25 and L25 are different machines, the learnings from these research projects have helped to build the foundations for the new range of electric compact machines,” Young said.

“The technology we have been developing is now sufficiently robust and this, together with changes in customer behavior and a heightened regulatory environment, makes now the right time to launch our electric compact machines.”

Following the unveiling of the first electric compact units, customers will be using and testing a number of these machines in pilot projects before production begins mid-2020.

“Unveiling our first commercial electric machines marks a significant moment in Volvo CE’s journey towards building a more sustainable future,” said Volvo CE President, Melker Jernberg.

“In line with the Volvo Group’s strategic focus on electromobility in all business areas, we are driving leadership in electromobility and delivering sustainable solutions that support customer success.

“The electrification of construction equipment will produce cleaner, quieter and more efficient machines – this represents the future of our industry.”