Volvo CE introduces electric compactor, teases electric mid-size excavator

“Change Starts Here. Be Ready For It.” That’s the theme on which Volvo Construction Equipment will be centering its presence at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023, which will feature its brand new DD25 electric asphalt compactor, the upgraded L350H wheel loader, as well as the introduction of the EC230 mid-size electric excavator to the North American market, to name just a few highlights.

During a virtual press briefing today, Volvo CE announced plans for its 55,000 square-foot booth, to be located at F8926 in the Festival Grounds during the show which will take place March 14-18 in Las Vegas. In addition to new machines, the booth will also feature services and technology in a dedicated Solutions Hall, two areas where attendees can test drive electric excavators and wheel loaders, construction industry influencers like the “Gold Rush” cast and more.

“All of us realize there is huge change going on in society and it’s affecting everyone, in all industries and within our own industry,” said Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE. “We want to take the lead and transform the industry, both when it comes to being more sustainable and more productive. This is urgent and that’s why we say, ‘Change Starts Here.’

“We are committed to being a fossil-free company by 2040, but words will not reach targets. Only moving from words to action will,” Jernberg continued. “We are demonstrating technology is developing fast and that’s where ‘Be Ready For It’ comes in.”

At CONEXPO-CON/AGG, Volvo CE will showcase its range of commercially available electric machines packaged with related charging infrastructure and other sustainable power alternatives.

DD25 Electric asphalt compactor brings 30% more power

The DD25 Electric is said to offer 24 kW of available power, 30% more than the conventional Volvo DD25B

Volvo CE takes a step into a new line of electric equipment with the introduction of the DD25 Electric asphalt compactor. This is the first Volvo CE-produced electric machine designed specifically for the asphalt industry.

The electric driveline of the DD25 Electric is based upon the same architecture and components found on Volvo CE’s ECR25 Electric compact excavator and L25 Electric compact wheel loader - the first electric machines available for the construction market, launched in 2020.

Its zero-emission operation makes the DD25 Electric suited for sensitive or urban environments with strict emission regulations and for organizations looking to meet their own sustainability goals.

Expected to operate for a full shift on a single charge, depending upon the type of job and intensity of the work cycle, the machine comes with an integrated on-board charger which enables charging from zero to 100% in as little as three hours, depending on AC power level.

With an optional off-board DC fast charger, this can be achieved in little over an hour, offering a practical solution to top-up the machine’s charge during the lunch break.

Combining the Volvo Asphalt Compactor platform with battery power, the DD25 Electric offers 24 kW of available power, 30% more than the conventional Volvo DD25B. 

EC230 Electric mid-size excavator comes to North America

Volvo CE announces its electric lineup expansion with the introduction of the 23-ton EC230 Electric mid-size excavator to the North American market.

“Our electric excavators and wheel loaders have really led the way in converting the industry and making it more sustainable,” noted Ray Gallant, vice president product management and productivity at Volvo CE North America. “We’re proud to take a lead in making that happen for our industry. This includes the largest lineup of electric machines currently available with three small excavator models and two small loader models available commercially today.

“Now we’re very excited to have the EC230, our first mid-range heavy equipment piece that’s been electrified. It has a 600-volt battery and is really our first step in electrifying the rest of the range and larger equipment. The EC230 has been out in Europe on customer trials. We’ve been promoting it in Europe, and now it’s coming to North America. We’ll put in on customer trials this year and have it available for sale in 2024.”

L350H wheel loader get upgrades

Also in the Volvo booth will be the upgraded L350 wheel loader.

“The L350H has been in production for many, many years,” noted Eric Yeomans, product manager, wheel loaders, Volvo CE. “The big difference between the [previous] 350s compared to the existing one is the new drive train.”

The upgraded driveline features new Volvo axles and an all-new Volvo transmission, which enables the third-generation OptiShift to be equipped as standard. Already found on Volvo L110H to L260H wheel loaders, this technology integrates the Reverse By Braking function and the lock-up function in transmission to boost fuel efficiency by up to 15%.

Efficiency is further enhanced by an optimized gear shifting ratio and a new converter that delivers outputs of up to 22% more tractive force depending on the selected gear and machine speed, Yeomans said.

One of the more notable improvements on the updated L350H wheel loader is a more responsive hydraulics system featuring new lift and tilt cylinders, and an increased hydraulic working pressure for 10% faster work cycles and higher productivity.

Solutions, services and more 

Inside Volvo CE’s Solutions Hall, show attendees will be able to speak to experts about services and technology that can be tailored to the way they do business to grow

Inside Volvo CE’s Solutions Hall, show attendees will be able to speak to experts about services and technology

now and into the future. Solution offerings include:

• Site solutions that give customers tailored recommendations for their fleet — regardless of brand — to optimize site setup and reduce the risk of accidents.
• Business solutions to help customers streamline transactions, better control costs and maximize their uptime potential so they can stay focused on their core business.
• Financial solutions including bundles and offers that help customers better manage cash flow during seasonal slowdowns.
• ActiveCare Direct, Volvo’s one-of-a-kind telematics machine monitoring and reporting service, that provides proactive fleet intelligence to save customers time and money on diagnosing machine issues.

Attendees can also meet members of Discovery Channel’s “Gold Rush” cast Tuesday through Friday in the Volvo booth, as well as other popular construction industry influencers during a meet-and-greet Wednesday afternoon.

They can also get an up-close look at a real FIA World Rallycross electric race car. As the official track building partner of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, Volvo CE continues to drive industry transformation toward sustainable power both on and off the track.