Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has marked its first-ever electric construction equipment trials in the UAE with the testing of the L120H Electric wheel loader in Abu Dhabi.

The deployment alongside trusted dealer Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (Famco) and Alas Emirates Ready Mix, a leading UAE supplier of readymix concrete, marks a significant step towards sustainable construction practices in the region and aligns with the firm’s commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility, said Volvo CE.

The L120H Electric is a 20-tonne wheel loader that uses the market-recognised conventional machine as its base. It promises the same performance as the conventional machine but with the environmental advantage of being emission free, offering near silent operation and a much more comfortable work environment.

It is powered by 282 kWh batteries for a runtime of eight hours in light and medium duty applications, with the ability to work indoors and in noise-sensitive areas, it stated.  Equipped with cutting-edge electric propulsion technology, the Volvo CE L120H Electric wheel loader represents a leap forward in reducing carbon emissions and noise pollution associated with traditional diesel-powered construction machinery.

According to Volvo CE, UAE-based plant and machinery specialist Famco conducted the trial of the Volvo L120H Electric wheel loader at the Alas Emirates Ready Mix worksite in Abu Dhabi, with the machine tasked with loading from stockpiles to a feeder hopper for the readymix.

“We’ve been privileged to experience first-hand the high-performance capabilities of the Volvo L120 Electric,” remarked Alas Emirates Ready Mix production manager Elie Touma. “The wheel loader is extremely impressive, reliable, and efficient, with quick response time. The low noise and vibration reduction has created a comfortable work environment for our operators, which has been reflected in a measured uptick in productivity.”

Volvo CE developed a solution to convert the tried-and-trusted L120 wheel loader to electric as part of an industry-leading ambition to advance its electromobility offering without detriment to speed and reliability.