Beam Global : Volvo Marketing Compact Electric Construction Equipment in California

Marketing Compact Electric Construction Equipment in California

By Brian Hoover, Senior Editor

Volvo CE has been on the leading edge of sustainable, forward-thinking solutions for many years. Research and development are moving fast, and Volvo CE is one of the companies leading the charge toward new technology. Recently, the manufacturer announced the launch of their electric range of Volvo branded compact excavators and compact wheel loaders. According to their announcement in Jan. 2019, Volvo CE was the first construction equipment manufacturer to commit to an electric future for its compact machine range. The first electric machines were unveiled at the bauma exhibition in April 2019. Volvo CE makes it clear that diesel combustion remains the most robust power source for its larger machines but says that electric propulsion and battery technology is the focus toward a diesel-free compact equipment future.

Michael Burrell has been with Volvo Construction Equipment & Services, Inc. for about 10 years and serves as the territory manager for San Diego and Imperial County. 'We have been working with Volvo CE to get the new Volvo ECR25 electric excavator and L25 electric wheel loader into the hands of working contractors and agencies and get their feedback on the productivity and viability of this new technology,' says Burrell. 'We have partnered with companies like Baltic Sands, Inc. in Joshua Tree, Casper Company out of Spring Valley and agencies like Caltrans. As a result, there is a great deal of interest in this new electric compact equipment technology. If things go like they are in Europe, we are expecting to turn our long list of interested agencies and contractors into active sales very soon.'

Baltic Sands, Inc. (Baltic Sands) Tests Volvo Electric Excavator and Wheel Loader in the Desert

According to Burrell, Baltic Sands expressed great interest in electromobility in their pursuit of developing responsible housing with environmentally responsible equipment. Baltic Sands works primarily in remote desert locations where power, water and utilities can be scarce. They were looking for a solution that would allow for the use of compact electric equipment where an electric power grid does not exist. Volvo CE stepped up and provided Baltic Sands company director Jacques Marais and his team, with a pilot program opportunity. The commercial pilot was part of a $2 million grant administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission technologies for off-road mobile equipment. The South Coast AQMD region includes Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including the Coachella Valley. 'This pilot project with Volvo CE allowed us to pursue the ideal of being more ecologically friendly through the adoption of new technologies,' says Marais. 'In my opinion, they (Volvo ECR25 electric excavator and L25 electric wheel loader) perform equally in terms of productivity. They're extraordinary and they surprised us. In fact, we'd love to have these machines working all the time.'

Baltic Sands operators pointed to several benefits, including experiencing less fatigue due to the lack of engine noise and vibration. They also reported enjoying the ability to hop in and out of the electric units and get instant, efficient power whenever they needed it. However, one of the most talked-about benefits was the ability to speak directly to other operators and laborers from a safe distance without the need to yell. 'The Volvo ECR25 electric excavator currently offers around five hours of continuous run time, and the L25 loader has approximately four and one-half hours. It is perfect for those who are not continuously running their machine and will easily run all day long on any jobsite. For major production jobs or situations like all-day digging operations, the conventional diesel version might be more appropriate,' says Burrell. 'For Baltic Sands, running these units continuously became possible once we were able to install a solar charging station on the jobsite. These patented Beam solar panel stations can charge the batteries overnight or even during lunch to provide a contractor with uninterrupted power for large production jobs whenever necessary. Having access to electricity or a reliable charging infrastructure is a big part of deciding whether battery-powered compact equipment is the right choice for your construction firm or agency.'

Burrell says that the Beam solar panel charging stations can be folded for easy transport. 'I love these Beam charging stations and was able to get a close-up look at one at their Miramar facility last year. The charging unit and compact electric machines require a substantial upfront investment. However, these extra costs can and will be deferred by fuel and maintenance savings, along with upcoming government programs similar to what is currently available for electric cars,' continues Burrell. 'These charging stations take up what amounts to the size of one parking space. It has Phase 1 charging, so you can fully charge machines in just six hours. The charging unit also has a slick GPS system that moves with the sun for optimum charging.'

Jacques Marais of Baltic Sands says that he looks forward to taking part in another trial soon with the same two electric Volvo units. The long-term plan for Marais and the Baltic Sands team is to integrate the electric machine technology to work harmoniously within their existing diesel-powered fleet. 'This is where ideology meets reality,' says Marais. 'I'm mindful of that and hoping that as early adopters to electromobility, we get it right. I'm pretty excited about getting that under our belt and seeing what the future holds for our company.'

Casper Company Strives to Remain on the Leading Edge of Technology

Burrell has worked with Casper Company for many years, and he points out that they have always been pioneers when it comes to cutting-edge technology. 'Daryl Merrit is a customer and a friend, as well as the head operator at Casper Company. Daryl contacted me to let me know that his company was interested in our compact electric machines. They have purchased equipment from us over the years, and they perform a large amount of inside demolition work, and for obvious reasons cannot have diesel fumes indoors,' says Burrell. 'They were already utilizing smaller plug-in robot type breakers that connect to an outside generator but were looking for additional and possibly better solutions.' Burrell delivered a Volvo ECR25 electric excavator and an L25 electric wheel loader to Casper in Jan. 2021 for testing on an indoor project they had with a naval base station in San Diego. 'We put a hammer on the Volvo electric excavator right away and were immediately surprised by the power and performance we were getting. Such a great design with plenty of power and the added bonus of an ergonomically designed cab that our operators really appreciated,' says Merrit. Casper was also testing the Volvo L25 electric wheel loader on the site.

Burrell says that Caltrans is also currently testing the Volvo compact electric excavator and wheel loader at one of their yards in Riverside. 'Caltrans wanted to test the battery life in their yard and out in the field, and we are currently waiting for their feedback,' continues Burrell. 'We also took in some electric demo units at our Corona facility and will be making those available to our customers. We want them to see firsthand what these amazing electric machines are capable of doing out on their jobsites.' In addition, Burrell points out that there are also several local and regional nurseries that want to get their hands on these revolutionary machines. 'These compact electric machines are ideal for nursery operations where three or four trucks come in each hour and need to be loaded or plants need to be quickly planted, transplanted, or moved,' says Burrell. 'When you engage these machines, you start to burn battery life, but after your task is complete, you shut it off, and the remaining battery life is there for your future use throughout the day. There are just so many applications where these Volvo compact electric units are just perfect, and soon you will see them all over California.'

According to Burrell, none of the companies or agencies that have tested the electric machines so far have been shy about their opinions. 'We are very open to opinions and suggestions. Some of the comments include the development of a longer-lasting battery for longer production jobs and other small tweaks here and there,' says Burrell. 'There are cities in California that will not allow gas-powered blowers or weed eaters. These are the agencies that are most likely to be among the first to jump on board. We want to put out the best electric machine possible before mass production begins in North America. Developers, Caltrans, and other government agencies have and will continue to specify zero-emission equipment on their job sites. We want to be there when they are ready, with the best the industry has to offer.'

For more information or to pre-order a new Volvo ECR25 electric excavator or an L25 electric wheel loader, please visit www.vcesvolvo.com or call their Corona headquarters at [phone]. Cc