As one of Sweden’s most well known and oldest stud farms, Menhammar not only has a leading reputation to uphold, but 1,800 hectares of land to maintain. And to ensure they do so with the most sustainable approach possible, the owners are putting to work three L25 Electric wheel loaders to perform many varied tasks, from shifting feed and hay for cows and horses, to mucking out the stables and general material handling. Zero exhaust emissions, near silence and low maintenance requirements are essential advantages when it comes to delivering these demanding day-to-day tasks, but now with a lighter carbon footprint. The electric construction machines’ battery technology ensures jobs are done quickly and efficiently, without disturbing the animals.

This world renowned stud farm is home to around 300 horses, as well as 50 cows and 25 sheep. To the outside world it breeds, trains and sells the very best trotting horses for racing, with a huge presence in Europe. But inside on the farm it is an environment where its animals and staff come first and where conserving the landscape is a top priority. Not only do the owners take care to ensure zero emission operation on site but they also work hard to ensure a sustainable approach across everything they do. From embracing biodiversity and renewable energy, through to ensuring the emotional and physical wellbeing of both people and animals. Through its partnership with Volvo CE, it is continuing to lead the transformation of the equine industry.

Menhammar is committed to sustainability and believes in the power of renewable energy and innovative practices to make a real difference. This is demonstrated by its approach to a circular economy. It has not only installed solar panels, but also introduced a biofuel plant which produced over 1.8 million kWh of renewable energy in 2022 alone. It has not only used hydrotreated vegetable oil to power its agricultural machinery - resulting in a CO₂ reduction of 420 tonnes - but has also introduced Volvo electric construction equipment. And finally with a custom-built pond, it is managing its waste in a much more sustainable way, significantly reducing phosphorus levels from horse paddock run-off.

Ulf Segerström, Operations Manager at Menhammar, says: “We’re on a journey to becoming a fossil-free site so switching to electric machines makes sense. Their near silent and zero emission operation makes them ideal for working near our horses and livestock. We can get closer to them without causing any unnecessary stress. We’re really impressed with the battery life of the machines, which enable us to get jobs around the farm done quickly and efficiently, all without disturbing the animals. They’re much more comfortable for our employees to operate and work alongside too. All-in-all it makes for a much more peaceful and clean work environment.”

When innovation and a commitment to sustainability come together, incredible things can happen - like when our L25 Electric wheel loader joined Sandalford Winery to enhance the vineyard’s ongoing sustainability initiatives. The zero emission construction machine is a perfect match for this Australian customer, which aims to minimize its environmental impact by embracing a circular economy approach. By composting grape stalks for example, the winery is capable of creating organic fertilizer for its soil. And now with our electric wheel loader working on site, the result is high quality wines which have a reduced impact on our planet.

Dairy farming requires a huge amount of work and it is no different for Normalms Lantbruk farm in Sweden, where the morning milking of 165 cows takes approximately 3.5 hours. So efficiency has always been a key priority. And after a few months of putting our L25 Electric wheel loader to work, our customer here is happy that there has been no compromise on performance. Despite years of driving diesel counterparts, operators quickly got used to its electric operation, appreciating its ability to carry out all the day-to-day tasks while also providing a more comfortable and peaceful working environment - for both humans and animals alike.

When the owners of Pennsylvania dairy farm Lancaster Farming opted to add a zero-emission Volvo L25 Electric wheel loader to their fleet, they decided to also power the machine through the farm’s anaerobic digester. Having on-site power that is readily available has not only ensured the farm’s owners maintain an environmental approach across their operations but has also resulted in incredible cost savings. And that is above the advantages of reduced noise, lower vibrations and a better performance compared to diesel.

The electrification of agriculture is already underway - and with growing awareness of climate issues as well as increasing regulations, it is now becoming a business necessity. But electric construction machines provide many more advantages. As well as being more environmentally friendly, they require far less maintenance than diesel powered alternatives and even ensure a lower total cost of ownership. What is more, companies can be assured that high efficiency is maintained across a versatile range of tasks.

Charging electric construction equipment, whether it is an electric excavator or an electric wheel loader, is usually not a problem when working in agriculture. Due to application and length of use of the electric construction equipment you can often manage with a single phase overnight charge. Would that not be enough, it can be a good idea to invest in a fast charger. There are a number of options that are easy to use and most importantly provide lasting power and performance. Once you understand your charging requirements, it is often a simple addition to your working schedule.