Volvo Construction Equipment Tests Electric Excavator & Wheel Loader In Desert

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Volvo CE and Baltic Sands Inc recently tested the ECR25 Electric excavator (shown above) and L25 Electric wheel loader in the Californian desert to see how the machines perform in a remote environment. (Photo courtesy of Volvo.)

Volvo Construction Equipment and Baltic Sands Inc. have begun testing the ECR25 Electric excavator and L25 Electric wheel loader in the Californian desert to see how the machines perform in a remote desert environment. The testing is part of a $2 million grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which covers Orange County and portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission technologies for off-road mobile equipment.

About The Project

Baltic Sands is a real estate development company that specializes in luxury off-grid properties with unique designs created to fit the surrounding environment. The company often works in remote desert locations that lack power, water, and utilities and are committed to environmental responsibility. For the joint project with Volvo CE, the company used two electric compact machines which were charged by a solar array during overnights and lunch breaks to keep the machines running.

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The Volvo L25 Electric wheel loader reshaped large areas, performed finish grading for stormwater control, and relocated soil stockpiles at the desert site. (Photo courtesy of Volvo.)

A Successful Trial

The L25 electric wheel loader was used to reshape large areas, perform finish grading for stormwater control, and relocate soil stockpiles. The companies say the machines worked together efficiently on tasks each day. The successful trial in extreme conditions is a positive sign for use in urban settings. “A lot of off-road emissions are in densely populated, environmental justice communities, as well as on farms,” says South Coast AQMD Chair Ben Benoit. “Electric construction equipment would be a great opportunity and solution for our region.”

More Electric In The Future

Baltic Sands and Volvo CE will do additional trials with the addition of a battery pack to test how to make charging even more efficient. “In my opinion, they perform equally in terms of productivity,” says Baltic Sands Company Director Jacques Marais. “They’re extraordinary, and they surprised us. In fact, we’d love to have these machines working all the time.”

Source: Volvo