Volvo CE debuts mid-size electric machines in North America: the EC230 electric excavator and L120 electric wheel loader. These models offer zero emissions, reduced noise and improved battery performance. Volvo Group emphasizes collaboration and sustainability in pushing e-mobility forward.
Volvo photo
ACT Expo attendees learn about Volvo’s EC230 electric excavator (foreground) and L120 electric wheel loader (background).
Volvo Construction Equipment showcased its mid-size L120 electric wheel loader and updated 23-ton EC230 electric excavator for the first time in the United States at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Anaheim, Calif.
The EC230 electric excavator and L120 electric wheel loader are the first medium-sized machines in the Volvo CE electric lineup, which also includes three mini-excavators, two compact wheel loaders and an asphalt compactor.
"Electric construction equipment is still in its early stages of adoption and the changes are coming fast as we move into new product types and size classes," said Ray Gallant, vice president — sustainability and productivity services of Volvo CE. "The EC230 and L120 electric models give our customers options for applications that require larger machines while delivering the benefits of zero emissions, reduced noise and less machine maintenance."
The new-generation EC230 Electric is now available for order. The L120 Electric is in pilot testing with customers and is expected to open for orders in late 2025 with early 2026 deliveries.
Upgraded Electric Excavator
The upgraded EC230 electric excavator has improved battery performance over the previous generation — with a runtime of seven to eight hours per charge — due to its 650-volt lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 450 kWh. Because electric machines shut down when not in use instead of idling, operators can work a full day without interruption in many general-purpose excavation applications, according to Volvo.
Fast-charging capabilities allow the battery to charge from 20 percent to 80 percent in just one hour with a 250-kW charger, according to Volvo.
The EC230 electric excavator is the first electric model to join the new series of Volvo CE excavators introduced in 2024. The upgrades in the next-gen excavators include:
● a revamped cab with more space, comfort and functionality;
● an intelligent electro-hydraulic system enabling smoother, more precise movements of the boom, bucket and other attachments; and
● enhanced safety features and technology like Volvo smart view with people and obstacle classification, providing operators with 360-degree visibility and the ability to distinguish between objects and people.
New Electric Wheel Loader
The L120 Electric wheel loader is a 22-ton machine with 6-ton lifting capacity and a recommended rehandling bucket capacity of 5 cu. yds., giving it performance capabilities nearly identical to its conventional counterpart, according to Volvo. It can handle a variety of applications, including infrastructure, waste and recycling, agriculture, forestry and ports and logistics centers.
Its 282-kWh lithium-ion battery system can run for five to nine hours on a single charge, depending on the application, according to Volvo. Charging options include a 50-kW DC mobile charger that will charge the L120 Electric from empty to full in about six hours or a 150-kW DC fast charger that can charge it from empty to full in two hours.
Volvo Group Pushing e-Mobility Forward
ACT Expo traditionally is focused on the on-road segment. For the past few years, Volvo CE has exhibited at the show with other Volvo Group brands, including Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks and Volvo Penta. This year, Volvo CE, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Penta and Volvo Autonomous Solutions hosted a joint news conference to share updates in their business units.
"We collaborate across Volvo Group on sustainable power and share learnings with each other," Gallant said. "Those insights influence our engineering, help advance charging and much more — ultimately benefiting all of our customers and pushing our industries forward."
For more information about the Volvo CE electric lineup, visit volvoce.com/united-states/en-us/products/electric-machines.
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