Driving Change: Volvo CE Expands Sustainability Efforts in 2024 with Landfill-Free Operations, Electric Equipment and Lots More

Volvo Construction Equipment Continues to Pioneer Sustainable Practices and Electric Innovation

It’s the end of the year, and I’m feeling reflective. The Compact Equipment crew is currently looking back at 2024 and honoring the best equipment released over the last 12 months. While researching and surveying last year, I’ve also noticed a variety of business trends emerging in the market, ranging from technology moves to machine category entries and exits. Sustainability was one of these evolutionary trends in off-highway earthmoving equipment in 2024. Maybe no brand pushed that mission forward and further than Volvo Construction Equipment.

The company continued to solidify its reputation as a leader in sustainable construction solutions in 2024. From expanding landfill-free operations to advancing electric equipment, the company set new benchmarks for the industry. Here’s a closer look at some of Volvo CE’s latest green initiatives, groundbreaking projects and electric machine developments, as well as highlights from its recent Volvo Days 2024 events — both in Sweden and the United States. Enjoy!

Expanding Landfill-Free Operations

Volvo CE’s commitment to sustainability reached new heights with the announcement of three additional facilities achieving landfill-free status. Sites in Belley, France, and Shanghai and Jinan, China, have joined a growing list of operations that divert 100 percent of waste from landfills through reduction, reuse and recycling. These advancements bring Volvo CE closer to its goal of making all sites landfill-free by the end of 2025.

Currently, less than 1 percent of waste from Volvo CE’s global operations ends up in landfills, which is pretty amazing. Facilities that have achieved this milestone, including sites in Brazil, Korea, Sweden, and our favorite, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, serve as models for other manufacturers. The initiative is integral to the company’s overarching goal of achieving net-zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

This success is underpinned by a data-driven approach to waste management. By utilizing comprehensive waste separation systems and collaborating with suppliers to eliminate unnecessary packaging, Volvo CE ensures that 85 percent of its waste is recycled. These efforts reflect the company’s commitment to the circular economy and sustainable resource use.

Electrifying the U.S. Construction Industry

As part of its mission to decarbonize construction, Volvo CE joined the Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative in 2024. This consortium aims to showcase how electric construction equipment can support the electrification of U.S. infrastructure. Partnering with companies like Atlas Copco and Husqvarna Construction, Volvo CE is demonstrating the real-world potential of battery-electric machines. For starters, the partnership will focus on the construction of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the United States, using exclusively electric battery-powered equipment. These efforts set the stage for more widespread adoption of electric equipment in the U.S. construction sector. From the press release:

“Volvo CE is advancing sustainable power in the construction industry with our lineup of low- and zero-emission heavy equipment, yet we know collaboration will be critical to bring about the type of holistic change that is truly needed,” said Ray Gallant, Vice President, Product Management and Productivity at Volvo CE North America. 

Sweden’s Largest Fossil-Free Worksite

Volvo CE’s impact extends beyond its facilities and partnerships in America. At Sweden’s largest fossil-free construction site in Stockholm, the company’s electric machines now account for 50 percent of the operation. This redevelopment project, known as Slakthusområdet (the meat-packing district), serves as a testbed for sustainable construction practices. Phase one alone has achieved CO2 savings of 2,759 tons. Electric machines, including Volvo’s EC230 Electric crawler excavators and L120H Electric Conversion wheel loader, have played a pivotal role in the site’s success. By combining fossil-free fuels, electric equipment and climate-reduced concrete, the project exemplifies the potential of sustainable procurement practices. Learn more right over here.

Big Electric Machines at Volvo Days 2024

Volvo CE showcased its growing electric lineup at Volvo Days 2024, held in Eskilstuna, Sweden, and later in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The events offered an up-close look at the latest electric models and sustainable innovations.

Highlights from Volvo Days 2024 included:

• L120 Electric Wheel Loader: The L120 Electric wheel loader weighs a massive 20 metric tons. It also has a 6-metric-ton lift capacity, making it the largest electric wheel loader in the North American market.
• EC230 Electric Excavator: This giant 23-metric-ton excavator is one of the biggest electric models we’ve ever seen. It has a max dig depth of 22 ft+. It’s also boasting a 60 to 70 percent reduction in energy costs.
• PU130 Mobile Charger: Based on Portable Electric’s proprietary 48-volt direct current fast charging technology, the PU130 provides the ability to charge equipment in less than an hour with 130 kWh of energy storage capacity and a 20 kW charge rate.
• EWR150 Electric Wheeled Excavator: Volvo’s first electric wheeled excavator expands the versatility of its electric offerings. This multi-talented 15-metric-ton wheeled excavator features the shortest tail radius in its class. This model is not currently available in the United States.

Electric machines like these are ideal for urban projects, indoor applications and environmentally sensitive areas. They also boast reduced maintenance requirements, making them an economical and practical choice for contractors. Learn about all the advantages of electric equipment right here!

A Hands-On Experience at Volvo Days USA

I got the awesome opportunity to attend the American edition of Volvo Days in Shippensburg. This event allowed attendees to operate electric and diesel machines on a sprawling outdoor proving ground. See photo above. That’s me. I’ve operated Volvo’s electric units a few times, and I continue to be impressed by their versatility and performance. At Volvo Days, I was also impressed with the company’s focus on jobsite connectivity tools like Connected Map and Connected Load Out. From battery-powered compact wheel loaders to advanced site management solutions, Volvo CE is clearly poised to lead the industry’s transformation toward sustainable, data-driven operations.

Volvo CE’s Electric Compact Machine Lineup

Volvo CE’s compact electric machines are redefining what’s possible in construction. Here’s a closer look at some of the standout models:

• L20 and L25 Electric Wheel Loaders: With a runtime of up to six hours and fast-charging options, these models deliver emissions-free performance without sacrificing power. Both feature 48V traction batteries with a capacity of 40 kWh, a net 29.5 hp and a max travel speed of 12 mph.
• EC18, ECR18 and ECR25 Electric Mini Excavators: Ideal for confined spaces, these units offer quiet operation, zero emissions and advanced hydraulic controls. Volvo’s ECR25 Electric offers comparable performance to its diesel counterpart. It has a digging depth of 9 ft, 1 in., a max reach of 15 ft, 1 in. and a breakout force of 5,013 lbf. Exterior noise levels are reduced from 93 dB on the diesel model to 84 dB on the ECR25 Electric.
• DD25 Electric Asphalt Compactor: Designed for urban and noise-sensitive projects, this compactor combines high-frequency compaction with zero tailpipe emissions. The DD25 Electric asphalt compactor is a battery-electric, double-drum compactor that offers 24 kW of available power, which is actually 30 percent more than the conventional Volvo DD25B compactor.

These machines not only meet sustainability goals but also open up new commercial opportunities in regulated and sensitive environments. With reduced noise, vibration and maintenance costs, they represent the future of construction equipment.

A Vision for the Future

Volvo CE’s initiatives exemplify the construction industry’s shift toward sustainable and electric solutions. By expanding landfill-free operations, pioneering electric equipment and fostering collaboration in the industry, the company is driving meaningful change. Whether on a fossil-free worksite in Sweden or a charging station construction site in the United States, Volvo CE’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship is evident. As the industry continues to evolve, Volvo CE is leading the way, one electric machine and sustainable practice at a time.

Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.

Are you curious about the most popular mini excavator models? We have all the dirt.