Electrification of transportation has extended far beyond just passenger cars, potentially offering substantial environmental benefits. A Los Angeles-based construction company recently conducted a successful trial with the world’s most sizeable electric digger, observing promising outcomes.
Skanska, an international construction enterprise, tested the Volvo EC230 Electric Crawler Excavator’s capability in shifting large amounts of construction material destined for export. The trial revealed that the electric excavation behemoth could maintain the workflow and meet the demands of the construction timeline effectively.
Notably, switching to the electric variant resulted in a notable decrease in pollution — a 66% reduction. It also led to significant savings, with hourly operational costs dropping by an estimated 74%, amounting to $15.15.
Mason Ford, Skanska USA Civil’s sustainability and equipment services director underscored the achievement: “This pilot’s success marks a considerable advancement for the construction sector.”
On a related front, the Port of San Diego introduced one of America’s biggest electric forklifts. Innovations like this are pivotal for diminishing air pollution. Unlike diesel-run machines, which remain under-regulated and are significant pollution sources, electric alternatives are far cleaner. To illustrate, a gas-powered lawn mower emits as much pollution in an hour as a car does over 350 miles of driving.
Switching to electricity-powered heavy machinery not only helps the environment but also safeguards the wellbeing of people nearby, especially machine operators.
Feedback from operators who tested the electric excavator was positive, pointing to its user-friendliness, along with reduced noise and vibration levels. Such improvements not only benefit the construction workers but are also less disturbing to residents living close to construction sites.
Fulian Operation Team
2024.5.8
