Volvo Construction Equipment introduces EV conversion program for the diesel 20-ton L120 wheel loader in Europe, slated to be offered to some commercial customers later this year.
The construction equipment maker is also experimenting with hydrogen fuel cells for its heavy trucks, having been operating a hydrogen prototype at its test facility since 2022. But what about all the existing machinery that's not ready to be replaced with battery-electric models? Most construction equipment being produced today is still diesel powered, and these vehicles tend to have very long operating lifespans.Construction Equipment may have an answer and is launching an electric retrofit program for its 20-ton L120H wheel loader.
Volvo CE plans to offer the L120H Electric Conversion program to some of its European customers starting this year to measure interest in this retrofit approach, prior to offering it on a wider basis.But the company is also working on new battery-electric construction equipment including the EC230 Electric, a 23-ton battery electric excavator. In the longer term, Volvo CE plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its vehicles by 2040.