by Richard Cosgrove | Mon 16 Jun 2025
High flyer Volvo L120 Electric goes underground in Munich
The electric operation of the L120 Electric wheel loader from Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is a major advantage in one of Germany’s most ambitious infrastructure projects – the construction of a new underground station beneath the heart of Munich.
Building a second S-Bahn core route 44 meters below street level is a huge endeavor. ARGE Marienhof , a joint venture between Implenia and HOCHTIEF, is building the new Marienhof station for Deutsche Bahn. Right behind the town hall in central Munich, the project also involves a connection tunnel to the existing underground railway at Marienplatz, which requires tunnelling under compressed air to prevent groundwater ingress.
The conditions create pressure equivalent to a four-meter dive, posing challenges for both people and machines. With diesel-powered equipment considered too great a fire risk, only electric machines are being used. Volvo CE's L120 Electric, Europe’s first fully electric wheel loader for everyday tunnelling, navigates these confined, environmentally sensitive spaces with ease, while also providing a much more pleasant place to work thanks to its zero exhaust fumes.
Reinhold Boiger, Senior Site Manager Tunnelling of ARGE Marienhof, explains: “Nobody is even allowed in the pressurized area without medical clearance. Only electrically powered equipment may be used under these conditions. Any diesel machine would be an incalculable risk.”
This is the first time the L120 Electric has been used for underground operation, and the machine is the first production-ready solution in its size class. A team comprising Volvo CE, ARGE Marienhof and Volvo CE dealer, Robert Aebi, has customized the machine for this specific application. Enhanced with safety features like reversing and side cameras, people detection systems and automatic fire extinguishing systems, the machine’s battery temperature is also continually monitored for extra protection.
As Jascha Henjes, Strategic Account Manager at Volvo CE says: “This is not a standard construction site. Specialized solutions are needed here – and we have delivered them with the L120 Electric. Safety is our top priority; this applies to our machines just as much as it does to the people who work with them.”
Delivering the L120 Electric was no small feat. Navigating Munich’s historical old town with its narrow access roads, listed buildings, pedestrian zones, delivery traffic, restaurants and retailer outlets required meticulous planning and coordination. What is more, the loader needed to be lowered 26 meters by crane through a narrow gap, a complex task demanding teamwork and precision.
The project began with a tight timeframe. ARGE Marienhof requested the machine in November 2023, with work needing to start by January 2025. Paolo Mannesi, Electromobility Solutions Sales Manager at Volvo CE, says: “Such projects succeed through collaboration across the value chain. And that’s what we have done here. Together, we’ve achieved a significant milestone.”
Matching the powerful performance of its diesel counterpart, the L120 Electric is a 20-ton wheel loader offering up to eight hours of battery operation depending on the application, making it ideal for challenging underground operations like this. In Munich, the machine plays a central role throughout the day, efficiently transporting excavated material from the tunnel head to the skip for transport. Operating quietly and emission-free eliminates the need for air filtration.
Operators appreciate the machine’s electric drive, which enhances the work environment and control. They are also impressed with its modern ergonomics, intuitive operation, and superior all-round visibility thanks to integrated camera systems.
For Boiger and his team, the L120 Electric wheel loader is just the beginning. “We want to use more machines like this, and not just in situations when we have compressed air,” he says. “Electric solutions are also the future of open tunnelling.”
3 issues of Earthmovers for just £3 - click here