Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is digging deep to pave the way for the electric transition and develop new solutions for medium-sized construction machinery. This time, it’s a modification of a 20-ton loader for faster market entry.
It has been in the headlines ever since Volvo CE announced its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040 and having electric vehicles make up 35 percent of its machines sold by 2030. In today’s news, the company again said that “we must act now” when it comes to delivering carbon-neutral structures.
That’s why this time around, Volvo CE has opted for an EV conversion, which can even be offered as a retrofit solution, depending on market demand. Collaborators include CE Engineering Solutions and Parker Hannifin, formerly known as Parker Appliance Company or simply Parker, an American company specializing in motion and control technology.
The collaboration has resulted in the L120H Electric Conversion, which Volvo CE will offer to select customers in Europe this year. The 240 kWh battery provides around five hours of runtime in most medium-duty applications, and Volvo CE says it can charge from 0-100% in 1.5-2 hours.
Standard features include Comfort Ride Control, Load Assist with on-board weighing, and radar detection with a new collision mitigation system. Additionally, the L120H Electric Conversion will be supported by a dedicated EV app, allowing operators to check battery and charge status and warm up the cab.
This latest collaboration expands Volvo Construction Equipment’s line of electric wheel loaders. In addition, the company announced an investment in Dutch manufacturer Limach in June to expand its electric excavator portfolio. With the L20 Electric and the L25 Electric, Volvo Construction Equipment already has two light duty electric wheel loaders. However, the Arvika factory specializes in the production of medium and heavy wheel loaders – so new products can also be expected.
