Construction Equipment Europe
Charging compact construction equipment
Volvo Electric Construction Equipment
Charging compact construction equipment

Flexibility for charging compact equipment

Sustainable worksites need zero-emission solutions and our large range of compact equipment provide a clean and productive alternative to diesel. But having the means to power your electric vehicles is essential for your operations. That is why we provide suitable and reliable charging solutions, with a variety of options to suit almost any site, no matter where.

Whether it is one of our electric compact wheel loaders - the L20 Electric or L25 Electric - or one of our electric compact excavators - the EC18 Electric, ECR18 Electric or ECR25 Electric - there are a variety of charging options available to you. We have both outdoor and indoor chargers that ensure your batteries provide a lasting performance, and we have made it simple to understand the charging time needed to get each electric compact machine ready for work.

Discover here the best charging fit for your needs.

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Options for 48V chargers for compact machines

Charging cable for construction equipment

Overnight charging cable 11kW AC Type 2

This charging cable is to be used for overnight charging after the workday. This options comes together with the machine, along with a variety of adapters covering all your needs. It can also be ordered separately if required.

9.6kW DC Fast Charger for indoor use

9.6kW DC Fast Charger for indoor use

This is the fast DC charging station option with DIN plug, complying with Volvo CE machines’ unique protocol for indoor use.

17.3kW DC Fast Charger for indoor use
Most powerful indoors

17.3kW DC Fast Charger for indoor use

This 17.3kW DC Fast charger is a faster alternative to the 9.6kW option. It comes with DIN plug and complies with Volvo CE machines’ unique 48V protocol for indoor use.

17.3kW DC Fast Charger for outdoor use
Most sold fast charger

17.3kW DC Fast Charger for outdoor use

This 17.3kW DC outdoor charger with DIN plug, complies with Volvo CE’s unique protocol and can withstand extreme outdoor temperatures. It is a "plug & play", just plug the cable into a 32A CEE socket.

Charging time for electric compact machines

  Overnight charging cable 11 kW AC DC fast charger 9,6 kW DC fast charger 17,3 kW
EC18 20kWh 6h 2h 1h 15min
ECR18 16kWh 5h 1h 45min 1h
ECR25 20kWh 5h 30min  1h 45min 1h
L20 33kWh  5h 3h 1h 45min
L20 40kWh 6h 3h 30min 2h
L25 40kWh 6h 3h 30min 2h

Volvo CE release 48V DC charging protocol

With no industry standard 48V DC charging solution currently available we have released our specifications in a bid to accelerate electrification and make it easier for customers with a multi-branded fleet to make the transition to electric machines.

Read more about our 48V charging protocol

Less runtime needed for same amount of work

You probably know exactly how many hours you usually work with your diesel machine. But shifting to electric requires a different way of looking at your operating time, because with electric construction equipment, the idling does not consume energy. Our electric construction equipment has Auto Electric Motor Shut Down. So when the operator stops running the machine the motor turns off, but as soon as the controls are moved, you get instant power once more. This not only ensures less wear and tear on the machine and connected parts but also meaning 8 hours with a diesel machine (with 35% idling) means a runtime of 5,2 hours with an electric. Good to remember when considering how much runtime you actually need during a day!

Discovering the best way to charge

Do you know when you need to use a slow charger and when to use a fast charger? Do you know the best way to fit charging into your work day. You can see the difference in charging time on your working conditions with our handy Charging and Runtime Calculator.

Charging and Runtime Calculator

Easy charging whatever your business

Electric excavator in utility

Utility works

While all worksites are different, for most projects in the utility segment, it is possible to achieve a full day’s work on one overnight charge of your electric machine. If not, customers can take advantage of a quick opportunity charge during breaks.

Landscaping

Across many landscaping jobsites, there is ready availability of single and three phase power outlets - essential for powering gardening tools that landscapers use every day. Electric compact equipment can therefore easily be introduced into this segment.

Electric landscaping

Ski resorts

One major advantage of using electric compact construction equipment on ski resorts is that you can often take advantage of a reliable power supply provided by the electricity from the cable car system, allowing you to charge as and when you need to.

Sustainable construction with Skistar
Electric excavator in waste and recycling

Waste & recycling

In our experience of waste and recycling jobs, our electric compact machines are capable of holding enough power to get the job done each day and is also well matched in the power and performance of a diesel alternative.

Tips for prolonging the battery life

  • To maintain battery health, keep the electric machine at around a 90% state of charge and avoid charging up to 100% too often.
  • Do not let the battery level fall too low. If you are not using the machine for an extended period, keep it around 40-50%, as a fully charged battery has a higher self-discharge rate.
  • Try to use an AC slow charger at least once a week and let the battery management system (BMS) balance the battery packs.
  • Pre-condition your machine, particularly during cold winter months. This may involve warming up the battery pack or machine to an appropriate temperature range to enhance the efficiency of the charging process. By pre-conditioning, the battery’s internal temperature is brought to an ideal level, allowing for more effective charging and potentially extending overall battery life.

Running electric machines in cold weather

When operating in colder climates, you may be surprised to know that electric machines are actually a far better alternative to diesel engines, which are often harder to start and take longer to heat up. Our electric machines are capable of working in a temperature range from -10 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, exactly the same as an electric car. All that is required are a few simple tips to ensure optimum performance, such as charging indoors where possible, making use of our cab heater options and selecting the right attachments and accessories, such as snow tires.

Compact machines in cold weather
Electric excavator working indoor
Electric construction starts here

Charging larger construction machines

Larger construction machines have different technology and are used in a different way than compact machines. Therefore the charging needs and types of chargers required will also differ. To be able to work a full day for example with a mid-size electric excavator, you will probably need a fast charger. We got you covered! 

Read more about charging larger electric construction equipment and start your journey towards a fossil-free worksite.

Charging larger construction machines

Short facts about chargers

  • You can charge up to 80% in 1–1.5 hours - enabling a full 8-hour working day on a single charge.
  • Our electric wheel loader models take twice as long to charge than our compact excavators, because they have double the number of batteries.
  • A range of charging options exists for both indoor and outdoor use depending on the situation.
  • Our chargers are not only easy to use, but easy to move. We can provide both AC, DC and portable charging solutions.

Electric construction machines

Landscaping

Electric construction machines working in landscaping

Electric landscaping
Benefits

Why choose an electric construction machine?

Benefits
Energy cost savings

How much can you save in energy cost?

Energy cost savings calculator