Between 2014 and 2019, Young was based in Belgium and Sweden with responsibility for the company’s emerging electromobility and automation strategies and new product development. 

This interview has been edited and condensed.

ENR: How would you characterize the state of electric construction equipment use industrywide?

Young: It’s still very new, but slowly gaining traction. The most prominent benefits of electric machines are the elimination of emissions and exhaust fumes and the significant reduction in noise and vibration, making them ideal for occupied urban areas, special applications or indoor environments.

As batteries and charging options evolve to support larger equipment, it will become more viable for general construction. Skanska is among the early adopters successfully using larger electric construction equipment.

Did you shift to an entirely battery-powered product line during the pandemic?

No, but we were certainly working on our battery-powered models during that time. The good news is that we have the technology to achieve much lower emissions or even zero emissions, but not all machines are likely to be battery-electric; we must embrace other technologies, such as hydrogen, hybrids, alternate fuels and even direct grid-connected machines.

Volvo CE’s goal is to electrify 35% of our full product lineup by 2030 and to reach net-zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

How many of your electric machines are production-ready and which are most popular?

In North America, we have six compact models commercially available now and two mid-size machines that can be reserved for production late this year or into 2025. The compact models include the EC18, ECR18 and ECR25 Electric compact excavators, the L20 and L25 Electric compact wheel loaders, and the DD25 Electric compactor. The mid-size models are the L120 Electric wheel loader and the EC230 Electric excavator. We also have some hydrogen fuel cell prototypes.

Are there any models coming online that you expect to be popular?

Those who have tried our compact electric machines have been pleasantly surprised with how similar they are to their diesel counterparts—except for the noise and fumes. I’m excited to see that carry over to the bigger models.

There is strong interest in mid-size machines, and Volvo is among the first OEMs to dive into this market. While our customers appreciate our entry into this size range, we realize that two models do not have the application coverage to make these universally attractive. So we continue demonstrating the capabilities of these units and helping customers determine the infrastructure and work style changes needed to take advantage of electric machines. The introduction of larger electric equipment is happening in tandem with improvements in battery capacity and charging options, which will greatly accelerate the adoption rate.

How are your contractor customers keeping their fleet of machines charged?

There is a difference between compact equipment and the mid-size, higher voltage offerings. For compact equipment, the best charging option for optimal battery life is Level 2 AC charging, also known as slow charging, versus DC rapid charging—but both are acceptable depending on the user’s needs.

The simplest way to charge is at a machine’s “home base” at the end of each shift, using a 240-volt outlet (like many of our household appliances run on). But that is not feasible in many construction work situations.

Some charging solutions are meant for jobsites with existing power that can support AC charging and DC fast chargers (which often require access to a 3-phase, 480-volt, 60-amp power supply).

For remote jobs, there are off-grid, no-connection, freestanding solar chargers, as well as many portable solutions that can power equipment and even be used as temporary charging stations for other electric tools.

Mid-size and larger equipment will primarily require Level 3 fast charging systems because these machines have higher production expectations and customers want maximum uptime. For this, we expect to see the use of high-power opportunity charging, which often requires specialized charging structures.

Have you developed a mobile fast charging station? 

Yes—seeing companies partner to innovate is exciting. We have worked with multiple partners to either develop or distribute charging solutions. The most recent units we launched are the PU130 and the PU750.

We developed the PU130 in partnership with Portable Electric. It’s a portable AC and DC fast charger for smaller, 48-volt battery-electric machines. Using the DC fast charge plugs, it can bring a compact machine’s battery from empty to full in under an hour while also providing site power.

The PU750 was developed by Utility Innovation Group (UIG) in cooperation with Volvo CE and Volvo Penta. It allows mid-size electric machines to charge on a variety of jobsites thanks to its adaptability to multiple setups and easy transportability on a lowboy trailer. It’s ideal for fast-charging larger equipment without needing a converter or secondary charger.

Anything to add about future trends for electric construction equipment?

A key factor in growing the use of electric equipment is to get our infrastructure up to speed. The machines and charging units are developing quickly, but there is work left on the grid that supports them. Governments and trail-blazing groups like the North American Electric Construction Equipment Coalition are essential for moving this forward.

We also have to keep in mind that the approach to making our industry more sustainable isn’t a single technical solution, but rather a variety of options we’ll need to develop and integrate into our operations (like hydrogen, hybrid, renewable fuels and more). As long as we keep working together toward the end goal, there is no wrong way to get there.