Volvo Unveils LX2 Electric Compact Wheel Loader
Volvo Construction Equipment, a leading global manufacturer of various types of construction machines, lifted the curtain on its new LX2 electric compact wheel loader concept at the recent Volvo Group Innovation Summit, in Berlin, Germany. Highlights of the experimental machine include zero emissions, quiet operation, and lower operating costs.
You Can’t Buy It . . . Yet
Volvo CE’s innovative LX2 is a refined version of a previous prototype electric compact wheel loader. The LX2 features two electric motors, one dedicated to the drivetrain and one for the hydraulics, and a large lithium ion battery where the internal combustion engine would be in a traditional machine. A single charge lets an operator drive the machine for eight hours while performing common workloads.
Needless to say, emissions are not a problem. Ulrich Faß, Volvo CE’s Emerging Technologies manager says, “As it’s electric, no particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, or carbon dioxide are released into the environment. This, together with the fact that it has extremely low noise levels, makes it ideal for use in cities and densely populated areas, as it can be used without disturbing people.”
Cleaning Up The Mining Industry
Volvo CE and its customer Skanska Sweden are in the process of evaluating a new electric site solution at Skanska’s Vikan Kross quarry, in an attempt to slash carbon emissions by as much as 95% and cut total cost of ownership by up to a quarter. Volvo CE’s offering consists of a handful of prototype electric and autonomous equipment, such as the HX2 battery-electric autonomous load carrier, the LX1 hybrid wheel loader, and the EX1 cable-connected excavator. Although none of these machines are commercially available, this is the wave of the future, and Volvo CE plans to be the crest of that wave.
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Source: Volvo
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