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Volvo CE reaches 100,000 hours of electric operation in Norway

Since their debut in 2020, Volvo Construction Equipment's (Volvo CE) purpose-built electric machines have clocked up over 100,000 hours in Norway. That's equivalent to more than eleven years of use - the same time it takes to travel to Mars and back three times.

From the southern city of Kristiansand to Hammerfest in the north, Volvo CE’s battery electric construction machines are playing a key role in making job sites across Norway more sustainable. Showcasing their incredible versatility, a Volvo L25 Electric wheel loader is even being used in Svalbard, a remote Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, where winter temperatures range from -13 to -20°c.

Today, there are a vast number of Volvo electric machines in use in Norway and collectively, they have clocked over 100,000 hours of operation. That’s enough time to drive around the world dozens of times or journey to Mars and back more than three times. 

David Kristianslund, Sales Director, Volvo Maskin, Norway, said: “It’s exciting to see how electric construction machines are becoming commonplace on job sites across Norway. The country has long led in the electromobility revolution, proving what’s possible for other regions. The diverse range of customers and the different environments where these machines are used highlight the enormous potential of this technology. Thanks to early adopters, like those in Norway, we’ve gained hundreds of thousands of invaluable hours of experience that inform the development of our new-generation electric solutions.”

The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to urban air pollution. Switching to zero-emission construction equipment is an effective solution to reduce emissions and improve air quality. Using diesel-powered machines for the same duration would have consumed millions of liters of diesel and emitted harmful carbon dioxide and NOx emissions, underscoring the significant environmental impact of transitioning to electric alternatives.

Norway, especially Oslo, leads the way in using electric construction machines. In 2023, 98% of Oslo’s municipal building sites were free from fossil fuels and from 1 January 2025, all public works commissioned by the city must be zero emission. Today, Oslo Municipality has a fleet of active Volvo electric machines, supporting its goal for emission-free construction in public projects.

Norway was among the first to receive Volvo CE’s electric machines in 2020. Longstanding customers K Baugerød Anlegg and Veidekke Entreprenør AS were the first to benefit, with K Baugerød Anlegg receiving a Volvo ECR25 Electric compact excavator, and Veidekke a Volvo L25 Electric wheel loader. Veidekke has also recently added an L120 Electric wheel loader to their fleet.

Today, a wide range of machines - from the compact EC18 Electric excavator to mid-sized models like the EC230 Electric excavator and L120 Electric wheel loader – are used by 174 customers, tackling tasks from landscaping to recycling and general construction. Not only have these machines helped to reduce tailpipe emissions, but they've also improved working conditions for hundreds of operators.

Volvo CE’s early move into electric construction has allowed them to build unparalleled expertise in zero-exhaust emission solutions. Beyond the environmental benefits, electric machines improve working conditions by reducing noise, vibrations, and emissions of harmful substances like NOx. This means they have the potential to significantly improve urban air quality.

Volvo CE has also built competences in optimizing the usage, charging, and servicing of electric machines.  

Volvo CE continues to innovate, expanding its electric offering to help customers transition to electric. The recent launch of the A30 Electric and A40 Electric articulated haulers represents a world first for serially produced battery-powered articulated haulers in their size class. By expanding the portfolio to include larger machine models, which typically have greater operating hours than compact machines, the total number of operating hours is set to grow rapidly. 

The battery electric construction machines are part of a multi-technology approach, which also includes grid-connected solutions like the EW240 Electric Material Handler. This diverse range of offerings is designed to meet the different needs of customers, wherever they are in their transformation journey. Recognizing that the electric transformation relies heavily on efficient charging infrastructure, Volvo CE offers flexible, reliable on-site mobile charging units, including the PU500 and PU40 Power units, to facilitate the seamless integration of electric equipment on jobsites. 

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