Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has expanded its electric wheel loader lineup with two new models: the L120 Electric and the L90 Electric.
These new models were unveiled at Volvo Days 2024. They are a cleaner choice for those looking to decarbonize their operations, lower operating costs, and open new business opportunities.
These new machines enable the operation of 15- to 20-ton wheel loaders in low-carbon zones and noise-sensitive areas. These wheel loaders can also be operated indoors without the need for extra ventilation systems and outside of standard working hours.
Volvo CE says that the machines reduce energy costs by 65 percent, maintenance by 30 percent, and engine-related consumables by 100 percent. The models also deliver the same, if not better, performance than the diesel counterparts. With less noise, vibrations, and heat, operators report more pleasant working conditions, reduced fatigue, and the ability to more easily communicate.
The L120 Electric wheel loader
The first to launch and benefit from a six-ton lifting capacity, the 20-ton L120 Electric wheel loader is ideal for multiple applications. These range from construction sites, ports and logistic centres through to waste management and recycling, urban infrastructure maintenance, and agriculture and forestry.
Across most light and medium-duty tasks, the L120 Electric can work a full day of around five to nine hours on a single charge, depending on the application and environment. When it does need to power up, it can charge from 10 to 100 percent in one hour 40 minutes with a 180 kW DC fast charger or Volvo's PU500 mobile power unit, and in seven hours with a 40 kW DC portable charger, suitable for overnight charging.
The L120 Electric will be rolled out across select markets in Europe, Region International, India, Asia, Latin America, and North America in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The L90 Electric wheel loader
The first electric wheel loader in its class, the 15-ton L90 Electric is suitable for a wide range of jobs. These include industrial material handling, forestry, agriculture and landscaping, quarries and mining, and waste and recycling.
Like the L120 Electric, it not only has dedicated electric motors for propulsion and hydraulics, enabling full available power to both systems but has a faster response and shorter cycle times than conventional models. For the L90 Electric, this is largely due to its Volvo transmission, brand new and purpose-built for the electric platform.
Operators can access functions and settings from the equipment's interface, which integrates the Volvo Co-Pilot and rearview camera when fitted.
The L90 Electric will last for approximately 4 to 5 hours of operation across most medium-duty applications and a full working day in lighter applications. Also similar to its larger brother, the electric drive motor on the L90 Electric recuperates energy by acting as a generator when decelerating, ensuring a longer runtime and brake life.
It can charge 0 to 100 percent in about 70 minutes using a 150kW DC fast charger or PU500 mobile power unit, while its AC onboard cable can power up in six to seven hours for overnight charging.
The L90 Electric will be available to select markets in Europe in 2025.
Extra support
Both electric wheel loaders will benefit from Volvo's My Equipment digital tool, helping increase uptime and manage the charging process more efficiently with insights into battery status, machine hours, and power consumption.
Like their conventional counterparts, they can also benefit from the Load Assist and Dig Assist suite of apps, Volvo attachments, and services and solutions to support use.
