Maryland Public Fleet’s Sustainable Purchase of Volvo CE Electric Equipment

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), the Department of Parks and Recreation for Prince George’s County, is expanding its fleet with electric construction equipment from Volvo CE in order to reduce its carbon footprint as part of its sustainability action plan. The parks department is using an L25 electric compact wheel loader and an ECR25 electric compact excavator to upgrade ballparks, playgrounds, and trails. Because of how quiet they are, electric machines will also be used to perform indoor tasks in office buildings, places with a greater populace, and regions where wildlife thrives. M-NCPPC used a cooperative purchasing tool called Source well to purchase the machines. The electric machines’ operators find them just as effective as a typical diesel machine in terms of performance, maintenance, and ease of use. Electric machines have easier and less expensive maintenance because they don’t have diesel engines. The battery-electric components’ lifespan should be on par with or better than that of a traditional machine’s diesel engine. The M-NCPCC installed charging stations on the department campus in collaboration with local power providers.

The Parks Department’s Sustainability Action Plan

The M-NCPPC’s Sustainability Action Plan aims to preserve, enhance, and protect natural spaces. The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)’s pillars – health and wellbeing, equity, and conservation – are upheld by the department. Maryland is also developing some noise and pollution regulations that must be adhered to. Andrew Phillips, Division Chief, Facilities Services, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, believes that by electrifying as much equipment as they can right once, they’ll be ahead of any ensuing rules. Additionally, they are acting in this manner because they believe it to be morally correct. Two full-time roles are devoted to sustainability on the Prince George’s County parks team, and they are working on grant applications and state financing for various regenerative infrastructure initiatives.

Benefits of Using Electric Machines

The M-NCPPC is using an L25 electric compact wheel loader and an ECR25 electric compact excavator to upgrade ballparks, playgrounds, and trails. The electric machines are being used to move mulch and soil, and even on their own lot, the Parks Department uses it to remove snow and mow. The machines are perfect to carry out inside jobs in office buildings, high populace locations, and places where wildlife thrives because of how little noise they make.

Purchasing the Machines

Due to the requirement that all agency purchases above $10,000 be subject to competitive bidding, M-NCPPC used a cooperative purchasing tool called Source well to purchase the machines. Phillips claimed it was a simple process that netted them a large discount on the machines because he was aware that Volvo CE also collaborated with Source well. Their local Volvo representative drove them to job sites to see their equipment when they were having issues with the old brand they were using, and they haven’t looked back since.

Maintenance

The electric machines’ operators find them just as effective as a typical diesel machine in terms of performance, maintenance, and ease of use. The mechanics’ worries were allayed after they asked for more training to teach them about the electrical parts. The L25 Electric wheel loader and ECR25 Electric excavator have substantially easier and less expensive maintenance because they don’t have diesel engines. According to Volvo CE, the battery-electric components’ lifespan should be on par with or better than that of a traditional machine’s diesel engine.

Charging Stations

The M-NCPCC installed charging stations on the department campus in collaboration with local power providers. The same kinds of 120- and 220-volt outlets that are used in households can be used to power Volvo CE electric machinery.