Benefits of Electric Construction Equipment

In order to help make construction more ecological, industrial equipment manufacturers are working to create all-electric models of common construction equipment. An increased emphasis on greener construction practices can be seen lately. As environmentally beneficial alternatives, heavy electric equipment is rapidly looking to join the likes of electric vehicles and public transport.

Electric construction equipment is not a brand new concept. Loaders, forklifts, and other heavy equipment can all be rented or purchased in all countries of the world, and electric hybrid equipment has already been in use for some time. Discover all about the benefits of electric heavy machinery and why these tools are generating such a buzz in the industry by reading on.

Diesel Engine

If you have ever passed by a construction site, you have likely seen this kind of equipment at work because a large percentage of heavy equipment runs on diesel fuel. Although diesel-powered heavy machinery is still incredibly common in the United States, all-electric variants are more widespread than you may think. They often blend right in with their traditional diesel counterparts.

Electric Equipment

The overall operational capabilities of all-electric machines are nearly identical to those of its diesel counterparts. For example, Volvo Construction Equipment claims that the specifications of its electric wheel loaders and excavators are the same as their diesel-powered versions. Their only distinctive characteristics are a slightly heavier operational weight and a higher constant motor power for their electric machinery.

The main differences between diesel and electric machines are obscure. Electric machinery uses rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs instead of a diesel engine and cooling fan. Some electric equipment, unlike their diesel counterparts, lack hydraulic pumps. The Volvo CE ECR25 electric excavator, for instance, uses electromechanical linear actuators rather than hydraulics to move its boom. The only reason hybrid and fully electric equipment isn’t as common as diesel engines is because there is a huge market of used construction equipment but electric and hybrid equipment will soon catch up.

How Hybrid Electric Equipment Functions

There is a way to reduce pollution while maintaining the high power density of a diesel engine using hybrid electric equipment. The small diesel engine, battery capacity, and electric motor of a hybrid machine make it ideal for demanding tasks and low-emission regions. Hybrid systems still require diesel fuel, but it can be used more productively by capturing the fuel’s lost thermal energy. This results in making it much more efficient equipment altogether. For example, a 25-ton diesel engine loader is only half as efficient as a 20-ton Volvo CE LX1 hybrid loader.

Benefits of Electric Equipment

Employing electric machinery has numerous advantages for both the ecosystem and the construction industry including the following:

Decreased Carbon Emissions

As it does not require energy sources like gasoline or diesel, electric heavy equipment promotes the use of green building techniques. Since the construction industry has been notoriously slow in incorporating greener technologies and is solely responsible for over 39% of all worldwide CO2 emissions related to energy, this advantage is undoubtedly necessary. Purely electric equipment is powered by lithium batteries, eliminating the use of diesel. These electric machines are necessary for firms working in low-emission areas.

Fewer Noise Pollutants

Noise pollution has been a serious issue for the building and construction industry for a long time. Building sites with loud equipment are a potential hazard to the workers and a bother to the surrounding homes and offices. Construction crews are particularly at risk from exposure to sound levels that exceed 85 dB when it occurs consistently for over 8 hours.

Electric construction machinery is significantly quieter while in use than earlier equipment using diesel engines. Electric equipment produces minimal noise and vibration because neither a cooling fan nor a diesel engine are needed for it to run. Construction staff members are also less likely to sustain an injury whilst operating equipment as a result, and their bodies experience less stress after a workday.