2 minute read
Volvo Days
Volvo Days 2022 embodied its ethos, showcasing how Volvo CE can lead the way for the industry’s transition to net zero.
Volvo Days 2022: ‘Change Starts Here’
Volvo CE is pushing the envelope of sustainability and next-generation construction equipment, as showcased when Technical Review Middle East was invited to the first Volvo Days event in four years. Matthew Hayhoe reports.
THE ETHOS OF ‘Change Starts Here’ permeated Volvo Days 2022, as the event returned to Volvo CE Eskilstuna.
Volvo Construction Equipment hosted the event to showcase its purposedriven mission of industry transformation, with its sustainability, electromobility and services portfolio at the forefront, as worldwide partners took to the event.
In his opening address, Melker Jernberg, the president of Volvo Construction Equipment said, “Volvo Days is the perfect opportunity to show how we are achieving our ambitions with readytoday sustainable power solutions.”
Jernberg showcased key figures from the company’s 2021 operations, with sales of 99,871 units sold across the year. As the industry begins the long journey to emobility with an end goal of net zero operations, 321 of the company’s small compact emobility machines, showed impressive performance yearonyear despite accounting for a relatively smaller proportion of overall sales.
Machines of tomorrow paving the way
A centrepiece of the vehicle show, which preceded the opening address, was the A30G Articulated Hauler. Beyond its payload capacity of 29,000 kg and maximum engine gross power of 265KW, the A30G was noted for its fossilfree steel construction. The machine was spotlighted for the innovative approach to reaching net zero. Volvo CE emphasised the need to embed the net zero approach throughout the value chain, including the raw materials used in its machinery. Future rollout of fossilfree steel currently depends on steel availability and changes required in manufacturing.
Another debut marking Volvo CE’s transition to efficiency was the EC230, the company’s largest electric excavator. While not available on the market yet, the excavator was on show. Ahead of customer tests in South Korea and China, Volvo CE was keen to highlight an expected reduction in energy costs of 6070% compared to the dieselpowered EC220, and a daily capacity of eight hours (provisional on a highpower charge during a lunch break).
Sister models in the electric equipment range include the L20 Electric Compact Wheel Loader, with a 1.8 tonne payload and paralleltype linkage, permitting optimal lifting height and 100% parallel movements across six hours of active work per charge.
Debuting for the public at Volvo Days
