Volvo CE ECR25 Electric

2021: Volvo CE ECR25 Electric entering the market

September 22, 2021 after the pilot program Volvo Construction Equipment publicly demonstrated the capabilities and noiselessness of its battery building equipment. The results of the pilot program were announced in Los Angeles live, simultaneously with the demonstration of the compact excavator Volvo CE ECR25 Electric, which became available for purchase.

Volvo CE is a subsidiary of Volvo Group, which develops and manufactures equipment for construction and similar industries. Most of the company's previous offerings were diesel, but the company followed the example of its main company by integrating electric battery options to ensure a zero-emission future.

Earlier, Volvo CE announced that the company would no longer produce compact wheel loaders and compact excavators with diesel engines, preferring to develop electric versions. By the end of 2020, the company has already supplied electric construction equipment to customers in France, starting with the compact excavator ECR25 Electric.

The company tested the compact ECR25 Electric excavator and the compact L25 Electric wheelloader on batteries to help accelerate the introduction of electrical construction equipment technologies. The pilot project was an informational success, and its fully electric solutions meet the high-performance standards of customers of construction equipment in various applications, which was proved during recent tests.

Here are some of the key findings:

• Sustainability: The combined 400 working hours of using electric machines reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 6 metric tons, and fuel savings amounted to approximately $2.4 thousand compared to using diesel machines for the same number of hours. Customers were also able to work safely indoors.
• Noise: Significantly lower noise levels compared to diesel equipment, which reduces noise pollution and improves communication and safety on site. The external noise level on the ECR25 decreased by 9 decibels (dBA).
• Performance: Volvo electrical construction equipment has similar technical characteristics to diesel analogues. Participants in the experiment noted that the performance corresponds to diesel machines, but at the same time the amount of maintenance decreases.
• Charging: The higher current available in the US electricity grid compared to Europe has proven useful for charging. Both machines completed more than 200 charging cycles using a 240-volt AC network, fast charging, mobile power supplies and solar power.

In the future, Volvo CE will apply the results to research and development of future construction equipment with batteries. The company pays special attention to increasing the operation time of machines, optimizing on-board charging systems and studying alternative charging methods at work sites where there is no free access to charging. Volvo CE is also working on the production of additional electric construction machines.

Pre-orders for the compact ECR25 Electric excavator and the compact L25 Electric wheel loader are already open to customers in North America. Volvo plans to begin deliveries of equipment in early 2022.^[1]

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