Singapore is one of the first countries outside of Europe and North America (and the first in Southeast Asia) to benefit from the environmental and operational benefits of electric construction machinery. That’s because, in early June 2023, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) introduced its L25 Electric compact wheel loader, ECR25 Electric compact excavator and the EC55 Electric Excavator into the market.
Electric machines are a much-needed step in the right direction for the construction industry – not just in Singapore but worldwide. The construction industry must change how it operates if it is to help the world meet its 1.5°C climate targets set in the Paris Agreement.
Around 40 per cent of annual global CO2 emissions are a result of the built environment, whether from building operations or the embodied carbon produced in construction.
Over the next 40 years, around 240 billion m2 of new floor area is estimated to be added to global real estate (the equivalent of building an entire New York City each month), underlining the need to reduce the carbon footprint in all aspects of construction.
Silence is golden
The near-silent operation of electric machines will be an important benefit in the bustling city-state of Singapore. With the noise of large diesel engines removed from the soundscape, working hours can potentially be extended into unsocial hours without overly disrupting local communities.
Similarly, by removing almost all the emissions from the machines, new applications can open up, such as working indoors. In the enclosed spaces typical of basement groundworks, for instance, there is no longer any need for costly fume-extraction systems.
By simultaneously removing the vibrations that can lead to headaches, fatigue and back pain, the cab also becomes a more pleasant environment for the operator. Owners will benefit further when tendering for work as property developers and industrial facilities increasingly prioritise suppliers with superior sustainability credentials.
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There’s no doubt local communities will enjoy the cleaner air and reduced noise pollution that comes from electric machines. As will the construction crews on the job site, working in close proximity to the machines. These work crews will also benefit from clearer communication enabled by silent operation, meaning site safety is enhanced. The option of a white noise can be added to facilitate situational awareness.
Although the volumes of construction equipment sold in Singapore (and the rest of the world) are small in comparison to cars, trucks and motorcycles, it pays to consider how they are used. Unlike most cars and motorbikes, for example, many construction machines are typically used for eight hours (or more) a day.
So, the replacement of one diesel-driven machine with a battery-powered alternative will produce a proportionally larger environmental improvement in a shorter period. For that reason, incentives to stimulate uptake among construction and industrial companies could help drive significant change.
Overcoming challenges
Of course, there are some challenges to overcome as we push towards the wide-scale adoption of heavy-duty electric machines. One is charging in remote areas away from mains power or renewable energy installations.
One option to meet this challenge, at least for short-term use, comes from our sister company, Volvo Penta, which recently developed BESS, a modular, scalable battery energy-storage system. And over the longer-term investment can help deliver better charging infrastructure. For this, the industry (including ourselves) needs to work with governments and others to help deliver solutions.
Then, there is the issue of battery disposal. Those used in Volvo CE’s electric range are designed to last the full life expectancy of each machine, and at the end of their life, the company has pledged to take responsibility for recycling them. We are also working together with waste contractors and others to maximise the recycling rate while exploring second-use possibilities to prolong battery lifetime in other applications.
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For owners, there’s also a question of perception around electric machines, particularly around power and performance. But the good news is that any sense of inferior performance is unfounded. The reality is the new models give nothing up.
For example, the 40 kWh lithium-ion battery of the L25 Electric wheel loader still allows for a maximum travel speed of 20 kph, with even greater off-road traction, while the slightly heavier operating weight enhances safety by enabling a higher static tipping load.
Likewise, the small increase in operating weight resulting from the 20 kWh battery array of the ECR25 Electric is countered by the delivery of more continuous motor power, while its bucket provides a similar digging force to other compact excavators in its class.
Some of the world’s greatest changes have been made without making a sound – and it won’t be any different this time. As part of Volvo CE’s goal of achieving net-zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, we already have the widest range of electric equipment on the market – and we are committed to growing this all the way up to heavy equipment. In fact, we aim to have 35 per cent of the machines we sell powered by electromobility by 2030.
For Singapore’s construction industry, change starts here.
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This article was first published on September 6, 2023.
The post Adopting electric construction machinery for a sustainable future in Singapore appeared first on e27.