by Kyle Molyneux | Thu 17 Nov 2022
KKB Group inaugurates Volvo hybrid excavator fleet
Demonstrating its commitment to CO2 reduction, KKB Group invited customers and representatives from the Lower Thames Crossing management team to witness the launch of its new fleet of Volvo hybrid excavators from SMT GB and learn more about the fuel efficiency technology behind them. On display at its depot in Hoo, Kent, KKB’s three Volvo EC300E Hybrid and seven Volvo EC350E Hybrid excavators are the first in a new fleet of alternatively powered construction equipment that will enable the contractor to significantly reduce greenhouse gases from its operations.
By harvesting free energy from the downward motion of the boom, the hybrid excavators deliver a 17% fuel efficiency improvement over a fully diesel powered equivalent, which translates to up to 12% lower carbon emissions from the EC300E Hybrid and up to 15% from the EC350E Hybrid. For KKB, this will generate fuel savings of around 11,000 litres and prevent three tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere per 1,000 operating hours.
“We strive to improve the environmental performance of the regeneration and built environment process for each and every one of our clients – and investing in these new Volvo hybrid excavators from SMT GB will make a big difference to the carbon footprint of the projects we work on,” said KKB’s Managing Director Del Bhanot.
Part of the bidding process
KKB was keen to showcase the new hybrid excavators to its customers, who are increasingly considering environmental impact in the tender process, demonstrating both its commitment to decarbonisation and the reliability of the Volvo hybrid technology.
Bemo Tunnelling, for example, is currently considering KKB as a partner for a major civil engineer project and looks for suppliers that can help meet its sustainability goals. Bemo’s Commercial Manager Daniel Curtis said, “Environmental performance is majorly important to us. The schemes we are bidding for have got be as close to net zero as possible, and we can’t achieve what we need without our partners and their technology. Seeing the investment KKB has made shows how serious they are about the future we need to deliver.”
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