Study proves viability of urban electric construction

The electrification of the transport and construction sectors is accelerating and is a central part of the societal transition required to achieve national and global environmental and climate goals. With an increasing number of electric machines and vehicles on the market, the need for collaboration has also grown among actors in the value chain, to ensure a functioning infrastructure.

Within the Electric Worksite and Electra projects, several major players have come together to test the electrification of construction and working machines at – and transports to and from – construction sites in urban environments in Gothenburg.

The Electric Worksite project has had a strong focus on the system perspective where construction machines, energy storage, and charging infrastructure have been tested in various urban environments to clarify the need for changes in technical and organizational systems. Tests have been conducted with wheeled and tracked excavators and wheel loaders ranging from 3.5 to 30 tons – and both battery-powered and cable-connected technologies have been used.

Within Electra, the project partners have focused on transports to and from construction sites and explored how charging can be done efficiently.

Successful tests and valuable lessons

After a series of tests, both projects can conclude that all tests have been successful. Some of the main lessons learned are that:

• Electric construction and excavation machines can perform the same work as fossil fuel-driven ones in urban construction projects.
• Personnel in and around electric machinery experience several positive effects in handling the machines and the working environment.
• Power supply for the machines creates some new conditions and are solvable depending on the type of machine and connected construction – such as power cabinets, mobile charging stations, cable-connected machines, and potential energy storage.
• The success of electrification relies on, similar to construction projects in general, foresight, planning, and flexibility.
• Clients need to be updated on new possibilities with the electrification of construction machines and build knowledge about business models and requirements towards contractors and subcontractors.

Collaboration and planning fundamental for efficient development.

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has developed and sells the electric construction machines used within Electric Worksite, and they see that collaboration is crucial to drive the development:

"Electric machines are already available on the market and performing well, but the challenge can often be how to establish a reliable supporting infrastructure. This project confirmed that when all actors in the value chain around a construction site collaborate, both from the public and the private sector, we solve the infrastructure around it. In all tests, regardless of application and location, the electric machines performed as well as, if not better than, equivalent models with combustion engines, but without harmful emissions and disturbing noise," says Bobbie Frank, Research Leader at Volvo CE.

For the construction company NCC, Electric Worksite has meant evaluating opportunities and challenges with electrification together with other actors in the value chain.

"Once again, we can conclude that the most important take-away is that we need to get involved early in the project to plan for electrification – because the opportunities to influence emissions are greatest in the planning stage. To scale up the use of electric construction machines and vehicles, increased competence is also needed throughout the value chain. We also need electric machines to be demanded in the contracting by customers, and that they set requirements that drive the development forward," says Pernilla Löfås, Sustainability Manager, NCC Infrastructure.

Cities are important stakeholders, who can benefit from the development

Cities and regions play an important role in enabling and driving the transition, for example by demanding emission-free vehicles and machinery in procurement of construction work and clear goals for the urban environment for all societal actors to work towards. For the City of Gothenburg, being a part of the projects has been valuable and they see many benefits in driving electrification within the construction and excavation sector.

"As the City of Gothenburg is a major procurer of construction and excavation contracts, we can and want to lead the transition towards an emission-free industry. We also see many other benefits for both the environment and the working environment, such as reduced noise and improved air quality," says Peter Lindgren, business developer for Electrified Transportation at City of Gothenburg's Urban Environment Department.