Electric Loaders: A Rundown of Volvo’s L20 and L25 Battery-Electric Wheel Loaders
This article is part of a series on battery-powered compact loaders. In the coming weeks, we will be posting brand-specific stories summarizing the electric loader options from a variety of machine makers, including Volvo, Case, Toro, Cratos, Volteq and beyond. View those other stories right over here. Then enjoy the feature below.
Volvo CE is one of the major brands driving and developing commercially available electric construction equipment in America right now. Volvo announced its first machines in 2019, and deliveries began in North America in 2022. In 2024, Volvo’s electric lineup includes two compact wheel loaders: the L20 and L25 Electric. They are being used in a variety of applications across North America and around the world.
Both feature 48V traction batteries with a capacity of 40 kWh, a net 29.5 hp and a max travel speed of 12 mph. Using a common household 120V outlet, these units will charge from 0 to 100 percent in about 24 hours. With a Level 2 AC setup (a 240V outlet that many appliances use), that time is reduced to about six hours, and with a DC fast charger, it’s about 90 minutes. There are also portable options like off-board DC fast chargers and solar-powered chargers if you need to take the power source to the machine instead of the other way around. Depending on how they’re used, the L20 and L25 will typically run for four to six hours, which would often support a full shift since they don’t idle.
The L25 Electric boasts a standard bucket capacity of 1.24 yd3, operating weight of 11,023 lbs and a max dump height of 8 ft. The L20 Electric has been engineered with a standard bucket capacity of 1.05 yd3, operating weight of 10,251 lbs and a max dump height of 7 ft, 9 in.
“Our electric compact wheel loaders have the same specs as their diesel equivalents, so they are able to tackle the same jobs,” says Darren Ashton, product manager of compact equipment at Volvo Construction Equipment. “We’re seeing our electric compact wheel loaders being used in applications we hadn’t even thought of at the beginning, which is exciting. It makes sense that it’s catching on in turf and landscape work as well as in agriculture and food production settings. It’s also a good solution for indoor work where fumes are a concern. We’ve also seen them used in cool ways for businesses like wineries, ski resorts and zoos.”
Both units have the option to fit a parallel linkage that delivers high breakout torque in various applications and the option of a programmable cab heater, which allows operators to easily choose the times and days of the week when they would like to arrive in a pre-warmed and defrosted cab.
“Our electric compact loaders also have two motors — one to drive the hydraulics and steering, and one for the drivetrain,” says Ashton. “You can control the hydraulic speed without having to use an inching valve to control the drivetrain. This gives the operator much more control of the front end of the loader and the attachments.”
Ashton breaks down a variety of advantages for Volvo’s electric wheel loaders:
- Equal performance. The specs of many compact electric machines are nearly identical to their diesel equivalents. Plus, they provide instant torque, so there’s no delay like you might feel on a diesel machine. Everyone I’ve seen use one of our electric machines on a job or even just a test drive is pleasantly surprised at how powerful they feel — some even say they feel more powerful.
- The elimination of emissions and fumes, and a significant reduction in noise. Workers can easily talk to each other while the machine is running, and living things in the vicinity hardly notice they’re in use. Related to that, the decreased vibration makes for a much nicer operator experience. Users are less fatigued at the end of the day. These benefits also mean that you may be able to do work you couldn’t do before.
- No fuel. No DEF. Much simpler maintenance. Because there’s no engine, all you need is grease and hydraulic oil. Volvo conservatively estimates that users will see a 35 percent savings in maintenance costs and time over the life of the machines we offer.
- Electric machines do not idle. When the operator pauses, the machine turns off, saving battery life and operating hours accumulated.
- You may be able to leverage tax incentives and grants. And, because the tech is still new, many manufacturers are offering flexibility in how to acquire these machines (buy, lease or rent and bundle charging solutions, warranties, etc.).
Advice for Buying Electric
“If you’re hesitant because of the cost, remember the TCO and the value of being able to do work you couldn’t do before,” explains Ashton. “If charging or battery capacity is your concern, just know that they’re probably better than you think and will continue improving for quite some time. And if the performance part is holding you back, I encourage you to get in a machine and try it. That’s the best way to address your questions and see just how impressive these machines can be.
“Battery electric heavy equipment is still in its early stages and will take time to catch on, but the non-construction segments are teaching us a lot because it’s more viable for them at the moment. I imagine the construction segment will catch up when charging solutions and infrastructure make more sense for them. Regions with legislation or goals around carbon reduction are picking it up fastest, of course, along with industries that feel a stronger push to be more sustainable.
‘No matter how you get there, carbon reduction is an important goal. For some, that may just mean more fuel-efficient models and switching to biofuels until the technology gets to a place where they’re more comfortable with it. Understand the application on which this machine will be used. You may find out that by eliminating idling on the jobsite, you may have enough charge to get through the day and then have the bonus of no fumes, vibration and noise.”
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Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.