Volvo Brings Electric Excavator, Loader to North America
The Volvo EC230 Electric excavator and Volvo L120 Electric wheel loader will be available to the North American market early next year, Volvo Construction Equipment announced during its Volvo Days event in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The mid-size electric wheel loader and excavator are designed to meet the growing demand for larger, more powerful equipment with reduced environmental impact, according to the company.
“These larger battery-electric models mark a significant advancement toward zero-emission solutions that can help businesses and government fleets meet sustainability and productivity goals,” said Dr. Ray Gallant, VP, sustainability and productivity services. “The electric excavator and wheel loader offer comparable performance to their diesel counterparts but with zero emissions, reduced noise, and lower maintenance costs.”
Volvo L120 Electric wheel loader
The L120 Electric wheel loader operating weight ranges from 41,887 to 47,399 pounds and a bucket capacity range of 3.92 to 12.43 cubic feet. It has a 6-ton lifting capacity. It is powered by a 282-kWh lithium-ion battery system that can run for five to nine hours on a single charge, depending on the application. Charging options for the loader include a 50-kW DC mobile charger that will charge from empty to full in about six hours or a 150-kW DC fast charger that can charge from empty to full in two hours.
Separate electric motors provide propulsion and hydraulics. The system recoups deceleration energy to extend battery runtime, reduce brake wear, and minimize the need for axle oil cooling. The loader also features active cooling and heating of the high-voltage batteries as well as passive cooling for the electric motors, transmission, and hydraulic oil.
It includes many of the same features as its diesel equivalent, including on-board weighing with the Volvo Load Assist system, torque parallel linkage, electro-hydraulic lever controls, and auto bucket-leveling functions. The electric loader is compatible with a range of Volvo attachments, such as buckets, forks, grapples, brooms, and snowplows.
Volvo EC230 Electric excavator
The EC230 Electric has an operating weight of 50,000 to 57,000 pounds and a maximum digging depth of 22 feet 1 inch. Bucket capacity is 1.44 cubic yards, and breakout force is 33,500 lb.-ft. It has a 450-kWh battery and can run seven to eight hours, depending on application.
The Volvo EC230 Electric excavator has been field tested by Skanska, Turner Construction, and Waste Management.
