Electromobility Frequently asked questions

Electric Machines

What electric machines are currently available?

Volvo CE’s electric equipment offer consists of three compact excavators, Volvo ECR25 Electric, Volvo ECR18 Electric, Volvo EC18 Electric and two compact wheel loaders, Volvo L25 Electric and Volvo L20 Electric.

When you say “electric”, does this also include the hydraulics in the machines?

The electric machines have a fully electric power source and hydraulic cylinders and pumps.

How long does the electric wheel loader battery last from fully charged?

Depending on the type of job (application and intensity of the work cycle), with a typical stop-start working pattern, you can operate the machine for up to an 8 hour working day with one single charge.

How long does the electric excavator battery last from fully charged?

Depending on the type of job (application and intensity of the work cycle), with a typical stop-start working pattern, you can operate the machine for up to 8 hours (up to 5 hours of continous runtime with the EC18 and 4 hours with the ECR18) with one single charge.

Does the electric wheel loader recover any energy during operation?

The electric loader recovers energy in all driving conditions while using the brake function of the electric drive system.

Can electric construction machines work on very cold or very warm temperatures?

The performance of the Volvo electric excavator and electric loader has been successfully tested on ambient temperatures between -10°C and 40°C.

How can I remotely monitor the battery status of a Volvo electrical construction equipment such as the battery powered excavator or electric loader?

Our Electric Machine Management Application (‘EMMA’) gives customers remote information on their electric machine/s. Users can keep track of battery level, charging status and machine location all from the convenience of an internet-connected device, helping to take the actions needed to manage the charging process more efficiently and maximize uptime. EMMA is planned to be released beginning of 2022 as a BETA version with a free of charge trial period.

Find out more >

How long does it take to fully charge the electric wheel loader battery?

With the optional fast charging device (380V-420V three phase), it takes 1,3 Hours for the L20 Electric and 1,5 hours for the L25 Electric to charge to a level of 80%.

With the standard charger (220V-240V) which comes along with the machines, the L25 Electric takes 9,5 hours and the L20 Electric takes 4 Hours to charge to a level of 80%.

How long does it take to fully charge the electric excavator battery?

With the optional fast charging device (380V-420V three phase), it takes less than 1 hour for the ECR25 Electric, 1 hour for the ECR18 Electric and 1 hour and 15 minutes for the EC18 Electric to charge from 0% to a level of 80%.

With the standard charger (220V-240V) which comes along with the machines, the ECR25 takes 6 hours to charge to a level of 80%. The ECR18 takes under 5 hours and the EC18 takes about 6 hours to charge to a level of 100%.

Which electric battery fast charger options are available for Volvo electric excavators and electric wheel loaders?

When it comes to e-mobility fast charging devices, Volvo currently offers three different fast charger options for the electric product range:

• 9,6kW Indoor Fast Charger electric battery charger:
  Fast charger commonly used in industrial purposes, designed for indoor use.
  
  
• 17,3kW Indoor Fast Charger electric battery charger:
  High-power fast charger, optimal for increased daily usage, designed for indoor use.
  
  
• 17,3kW Outdoor Fast Charger electric battery charger:
  Heavy-duty fast charger for demanding applications and designed for outdoor usage out on the field.

How do I recharge the battery for electric construction equipment?

The electric wheel loader and the electric excavator are delivered with an on board charger and the required plugs. With those, the machines can be plugged into a normal household grid or a CEE socket to charge the battery. For the optional fast charger of the electric wheel loader battery or the electric excavator battery, a 3 phase supply is needed.

Is there less maintenance on the Volvo electric construction equipment?

This is one of the major advantages of the electric construction equipment. Electrical components, batteries and motors, are maintenance free.

How does age affect the battery capacity for electrical construction equipment and how long can I expect the excavator battery or wheel loader battery to last?

The batteries used in our electric construction equipment are designed to last the full life expectancy of the machine.

Can the electric excavator be operated while plugged into the grid?

No, it is not possible to use the electric excavator while charging batteries.

Can I charge the battery even if it’s not completely discharged on the electric excavator and wheel loader?

Yes, the batteries for the new electric excavator and wheel loader range, can be charged at any point in time. The lifetime of lithium ion batteries profits when they are not always fully discharged and recharged.

Is there any difference in performance between these electric machines and the equivalent diesel models?

ECR25 Electric, ECR18 Electric, EC18 Electric, L25 Electric and L20 Electric are based on conventional construction equipment design. Only the electric components are new in the vehicles. With its new technology the ECR25 Electric, ECR18 Electric, EC18 Electric, L25 Electric and L20 Electric can deliver similar performance to their diesel versions.

Which are optimal applications for compact electric excavators and electric loaders?

Volvo electric excavators and electric wheel loaders are designed to be used in the same applications as the equivalent diesel machines, like for example demolition, landscaping and utility work.
Furthermore, the electric excavators and electric loaders are even better suited for environments and applications where noise, exhaust emissions or vibrations are a problem today, such as indoor demolition, farming or food processing applications.

Does the lack of noise from the electric construction equipment engine have an impact on safety on site?

In most sites, the lack of engine noise from the electric construction machines is an advantage from a safety perspective as it enables better communication between coworkers on site. Furthermore, a white noise function is offered as an option for Volvo's electric construction equipment, that allows people around the machine to hear without the health issues related to noise.

Can someone easily steal the batteries on the Volvo electric construction vehicles?

The batteries cannot be easily stolen as they sit deep within the structure of the machine and it would take several hours to remove them.

Can I test drive an electric wheel loader or excavator?

Our current models Volvo ECR25 Electric and compact wheel loader Volvo L25 Electric are available to test in the countries where these products have been launched. Please contact your local dealer for further information. Opportunities to test the new models Volvo L20 Electric, Volvo EC18 Electric and Volvo ECR18 Electric will be available in Q2 - 2022 when we have started to deliver the machines in each market.

Where can I buy an electric wheel loader or electric excavator?

Initially we have launched the electric construction machines in a limited number of countries. Click this link to see the latest list of countries, reserve an electric machine, or register your interest to get information about when ordering will be available in other countries.

How can I preorder a new electric wheel loader or electric excavator?

You can make your reservation online. Your nearest dealer will then make contact with you.

Is the electromobility construction range subsidised by the government?

Governmental subsidies are based on your own location, as different governments have different rules on emobility. Please contact your dealer to find out more.

What is the warranty for the electric machines?

All Compact Electric models are supplied with a 2 year full machine warranty* and 2 years free servicing* using Genuine Volvo parts.

After the end of the initial 2 year full machine warranty, the battery and electronic components can be covered free of charge** against defects for a further 3 years.*

*For further details please contact your dealer
** In order to qualify for the additional 3 year battery and electronic components coverage, the customer must sign up for a maintenance agreement with their Volvo dealer

Payment

What payment options do you support?

We support Visa, Mastercard and Amex. Additional payment methods are available in some countries.

Is the reservation payment of the electric construction equipment secure?

Yes. The reservation payment is taken on our behalf by Adyen. Adyen is a major provider of payment services and complies with all security and privacy obligations.

How will the payment be presented on my statement?

If the payment has gone through it should show on your card statement as either *Volvo or *Adyen (our payment services provider). If you still cannot find the payment, contact emobilitysupport.volvoce@volvo.com.

How do I get a refund on my Volvo electric wheel loader or electric excavator fee?

Your reservation fee will always be refunded when you purchase a machine. However, you can also cancel your reservation at any point. To do this, please contact emobilitysupport.volvoce@volvo.com with your reservation reference number.

Who can I contact regarding my payment?

You can contact us via emobilitysupport.volvoce@volvo.com.

Reservation

In which countries am I able to reserve an electric construction machine?

Initially we have launched the electric construction machines in a limited number of countries. Click this link to see the latest list of countries, reserve an electric machine, or register your interest to get information about when ordering will be available in other countries.

Will I be contacted by a local dealer after making a reservation?

Yes, we will transfer your reservation information to an authorised Volvo CE dealer based on your geographical location.

What is the price of the Volvo electric excavators and Volvo electric wheel loaders?

To find the electric excavator price, visit "select machine" in the Reservation section. There you can find the manufacturer's recommended retail price (MRRP) Volvo L25 Electric, Volvo L20 Electric, Volvo ECR25 Electric, Volvo EC18 Electric and Volvo ECR18 Electric.

What is included in the price shown on the website for electric excavators and electric wheel loaders?

The price shown on the website is the recommended retail price for a standard machine. Your dealer may offer additional options, specifications and local financing options.

When can I configure my electric construction vehicle?

You will be able to configure the at the time of placing the purchase order with your dealer. ECR25 Electric and the L25 Electric are available to order directly in markets where these products have been launched. The new models L20 Electric, EC18 Electric and ECR18 Electric will be open for sale in 2022.

What will happen after I have placed my reservation?

You will receive a confirmation e-mail with the details of your reservation.
We will transfer your reservation information to an authorised Volvo CE dealer based on your geographical location.
Your dealer will keep you updated regarding order time and other details.

What will happen with the reservation fee?

Your reservation fee will always be refunded when you order an electric construction vehicle. If you decide not to place an order or you cancel your reservation at any point, you will also be refunded. For cancellations and refunds, please contact emobilitysupport.volvoce@volvo.com (Customer helpdesk).

Does making a reservation guarantee that I can order an electric construction machine?

There will be a limited amount of electric construction vehicles, so unfortunately we cannot guarantee the possibility to order an electric machine to all customers. Please note that your reservation fee will always be refunded.

What purchase options are there for the Volvo CE emobility range?

The Volvo CE emobility range can be purchased and/or leased. Your dealer will inform you on what options are available for you in your country.

Where can I order and buy the new electric construction vehicles?

If you wish to proceed with the order for a new electric construction vehicle, the purchase will be governed by a separate agreement between you and the Volvo CE dealer.

How can I contact Volvo CE about emobility?

You can contact us via emobilitysupport.volvoce@volvo.com.