Electrification -
The future of the construction industry?
A lot has happened since Tesla put their first electronic production vehicle ("the Roadstar") on the road in 2008. Almost not a day goes by without seeing e-cars on German roads. The major German car brands such as VW, BMW and Mercedes are increasingly entering the market. And the electrification of cars is also becoming increasingly important internationally. With the BYD ("build your dreams") brand, the country of China has already put a powerful competitor on the roads.
More and more municipalities and cities are also opting for electric buses in their local transport networks. The progress of electromobility in the automotive sector has thus become clearly visible. And the development is also continuing in the aviation industry. As early as 2025, the Bavarian startup "Lilium" expects to receive the first approval for its first person-manned drone that runs purely on electricity. In 7 minutes from Munich to Munich Airport is the promise. Countries like Saudi Arabia are highly interested in the new German engineering that could revolutionize the global aviation industry.
But more and more attention is being focused on the construction industry. This is because it will play a significant role in the global fight against climate change and in achieving the 1.5 degree target. According to a United Nations report, the construction industry accounts for 38 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. High time, then, for decarbonization! According to South Coast Air Quality Management District Chairman Ben Benoit, off-road equipment is the second-largest source of nitrogen oxide emissions in his region, after normal road trucks. The agency, which is responsible for improving air quality in the Los Angeles region, home to 17 million people, sees its next focus as the electrification of construction equipment and looks forward to future success in this area. So-called heavy machinery such as excavators and wheel loaders are still only gradually becoming available as an eklktro option, but here too a new era will dawn, just as it has in the automotive industry. The vision is that one day we will be able to build roads, bridges, houses and tunnels without greenhouse emissions. Some pioneers already exist. For example, the winter road clearance service of AWB Cologne already uses an electric wheel loader, the Volvo L25 Electric.
In recent years, equipment manufacturers have made great efforts to promote sustainability. This has been achieved by using engines with lower emissions, reducing fuel consumption and developing telematics systems. Volvo has now already achieved great success in reducing pollutant emissions. Although further improvements in diesel combustion technology are possible, it is believed that most of the benefits have already been achieved. New technologies such as electric machines are the next step in reducing emissions.
The demand for sustainability comes from both the public and private sectors. Governments around the world are increasingly enacting legislation to improve air quality at the local and regional level. Companies are also increasingly committed to sustainability and are asking their partners to help achieve these goals. Sustainability requirements are also being stipulated in project specifications, and it is expected that these requirements will become even more stringent in the construction industry in the future.
Charging infrastructure as well as charging capacity remains the key issue.
Implementing electromobility in the construction industry is a challenge. The main problem, as with passenger cars, is the establishment and expansion of a charging infrastructure. In the case of construction machinery, this is compounded by the fact that these machines are often used in the construction or maintenance of the infrastructure.
Volvo has already launched some electric machines, such as the ECR25 Electric excavator and the L25 Electric wheel loader, which are available in certain regions. They use lithium-ion batteries and can be charged using a 220/240-volt outlet, the same way they are used for larger household appliances. In addition, the machines are equipped with fast-charging options that allow them to be almost fully charged within a couple of hours. As there is rapid progress in research and development in this area, options such as mobile charging facilities may be available in the future for charging in remote areas.
One challenge in introducing electromobility to the construction industry is getting a handle on the problem of charging and maintaining the charge. In construction projects, there is often time pressure and construction workers often work almost continuously. For this reason, pioneer Volvo started with smaller machines. Compact excavators and wheel loaders are often used in lighter applications, such as utilities, landscaping and agriculture. Their batteries store enough energy for a typical workday. The next step for the industry will be medium- and large-sized electric machines. One example of progress in this area is Volvo CE's 22-ton EC230 electric excavator prototype. However, one of the most important key issues remains the rapid and efficient expansion of a charging infrastructure.
Benefits go far beyond CO2 emissions
The poor air quality, a large and permanent noise pollution are known problems for the everyday work on construction sites. Employers have a duty to ensure that the health of their employees is taken care of. On these two points, electrification of the construction industry can play a key role. But the impact of using electric construction equipment is expected to extend beyond the industry. Low noise and zero emissions mean that these machines could be used in areas where the use of construction equipment has been impractical, such as indoors, orchards and fish farms.
In addition, advances in the development of electric machines can also be transferred to other electric vehicles and vice versa. The Volvo Group recently established a new unit to promote innovation in batteries and charging infrastructure. Volvo Trucks is leading the truck industry into electric mobility, and the construction equipment sector is also benefiting from these insights. The same goes for Volvo Buses, whose electric buses reduce emissions and noise in cities.
The impact on society and on climate protection of this progress in the construction industry is likely to be significant. The industry is one of the biggest drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. It therefore has a duty to look for innovative and sustainable solutions.
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