Allworks WA has become the first Australian customer to use Volvo’s new emissions-free workhorse, the L25 electric loader.
Throw a dart on a map of Western Australia, and chances are it will land on an area that bears the footprint of Allworks WA.
The ubiquitous provider of dry and wet hire equipment and personnel for the civil, mining and rail industries has long demonstrated its ability to produce efficient, consistent quality results, with operational locations strategically located to support major projects across Australia.
It has supplied machinery for tasks of all sizes, from smaller civil works to the likes of the Metronet rail projects in Perth, Inland Rail in NSW, and a number of large rail projects for Roy Hill, Rio Tinto, Fortescue and BHP.
The family-owned business, with Angelo Sarich and wife Robin at the helm, has been operating since 1999, with its key staff each having many years of experience in rail and civil works.
One of them is Allworks general manager Nick McLoughney, who spoke with Earthmoving Equipment Magazine about the company’s move into electric vehicles.
“The pillar of our success to date can be attributed to our industry alliances and connections which we have developed over the past 25 years,” Nick said.
And among those is the close partnership with CJD Equipment, which began in the early 2000s and has continued to grow in strength, particularly over the past 15 years.
“The relationship has really developed. They are one of our trusted suppliers for our equipment across the entire fleet,” Nick said.
“We own about 300 key assets. The majority of those are loaders and excavators and almost 100 of them are Volvo machines obtained from CJD.
“We’ve got in excess of 70 Volvo loaders, as well as their trucks, excavators, some graders, some rollers. It’s quite an extensive Volvo fleet and they’re always in demand.
“All of them have been powered by diesel fuel. But this year we decided to bring in the first electric loader from Volvo.”
The L25 Electric
The nudge into action occurred when Allworks had been contracted to help build a tramway extension at Whiteman Park, a unique recreation and conservation reserve and a major tourist destination located 28km from the Perth CBD.
With a need to work quietly and safely in an environment habited by fauna and frequently surrounded by visitors, the company wanted a loader that reduced worksite emissions and noise pollution.
“We’d been talking to CJD for a number of years about electric options because it is something that our customers are interested in,” Nick said.
“We were always keen on equipment that let us work more quietly in metro areas, for example, so when we have night shift work in and around residential areas, there’s less noise. And obviously the lack of emissions are a benefit.
“When we heard of the new Volvo L25, we wanted to use it for the Whiteman Park project.
“Volvo is a trusted brand. We were confident of getting one of the first machines, knowing that it was backed by CJD as well.”
The Volvo L25 Electric is the first such loader sold by the company in Australia. It combines the proven Volvo compact wheel loader platform with outstanding lifting and breakout forces, zero-tailpipe emissions and an extremely low noise level.
The five-tonne wheel loader features a lithium- Ion 48V battery with a capacity of 40kWh.
The quietness means the machine, with its distinctive rounded contours, can operate anytime, anywhere, even in populated areas. Zero emissions also mean there is no need for costly fume extraction systems when working indoors.
“The loader has already been out on a couple of jobs already. Of course, the first was at Whiteman Park, a very sensitive area, operating around local wildlife and the public” Nick said.
“Also we’ve used it in a couple of metropolitan jobs where its lack of emissions was great; it’s a very quiet machine and being Volvo, it’s extremely reliable.”
Nick said one of the best attributes of the model was the world-class cab for which Volvo is renowned, including wide entry, the superior visibility and comfort levels, further enhanced thanks to a dramatic reduction in noise, vibration and heat, and no exhaust fumes. This all contributes towards a quieter and cleaner jobsite, improving communication and working conditions for all personnel.
“Our operators are pretty happy with the comfort and ease of use,” he said.
Featuring a 1.2m3 standard bucket, forklift, grapple, or material handling arm, the L25 is a solution for a wide range of projects.
“It’s an all-terrain unit, and it’s very nimble, so enabled us to get into some of the tight spaces in and around our metro projects,” Nick said.
“It’s got the bucket and the forks. So we can move things around the side, as well as loading and shifting.”
Nick said charging the loader was also carried out with a minimum of fuss.
“It’s very versatile in terms of charging. It’s got many different charging options right down to a normal 240 Volt, 10 amp plug. You can literally charge it from anywhere there is power.” he said.
“In fact, we haven’t actually exhausted it during operations. You can do a fast charge mid-shift if required, but we we’re generally getting a full eight to 10 hour shift.”
Being a compact wheel loader, Nick acknowledged that the L25 was the smallest model in the fleet.
“But that’s all you need for some of the metro projects that we’re working on, and they’re so versatile,” he said.
“I am sure CJD or Volvo will be coming up with bigger electrical models soon. They’re already talking about the electric options for the L120 size, which is the majority of our Volvo loader fleet. And that’s something that we’re looking very closely at … the options to be able to utilise those machines.”
CJD Equipment state sales manager for construction equipment in WA, James Daniels, was equally thrilled at the success of the electric loader in Allwork’s projects.
“I’ve been involved with getting Allworks into our newer products, such as the EW 60 excavator, and now this L25 loader,” he said.
“We had started the conversation on electrics about 12 months ago. Some of Allworks’ end users said they were going green and the company always wanted to sort of match that and follow that pathway,” he said.
“So we started talking about loaders and we moved on to electrics and what’s happening in the future, and said this is where Volvo was heading.
“We’ve had the electrics for in Europe for about three years, and in the initial stages, Volvo was selective in where they were selling them to.
“We then got two electric machines, the L25 and the ECR25 excavator, brought down to Australia and we had them on show for a little bit and tested the market.
“Allworks showed a definite interest in trialling such models. When this machine became available, we did a demo at Allworks’ site in Wangara, and the rest is history.”
James echoed Nick’s enthusiasm about the L25’s features.
“The best feature undoubtedly is the fact that it’s electric. And it’s quiet, but has a lot of ground torque,” he said.
“Its lack of emissions while maintaining its versatility is a winning combination.
“And it’s not like a conventional engine where it’s constantly on idle and using fuel. If you’re not using it, there’s no power being drawn from the battery. So it’s about seven hours of work time rather than any idle time mixed in with that.
“So this is the first Volvo L25 that’s been sold in the whole of Australia. It’s a small order, of course, but with its success, we’re looking to make even bigger electric models.”
James said among these were the L90 and L120 electric loaders, and a 23-tonne electric excavator, the EC230, all of which were revealed at Volvo’s showcase Volvo Days event in Sweden in late May.
“We’re hoping that these will be available in Australia in the not-too-distant future, maybe even by the end of the year,” he said.
Electrifying specifications
Operator comfort
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- Low vibration, low noise levels, no exhaust fumes
- Wide three-point cab access
- Best all-round visibility
- Intuitive interface, electro-hydraulic controls
- Electric parking brake with hill hold functionality
- Programmable cab heater (option)
New opportunities
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- Perfect fit for noise sensitive areas
• Ability to work out of standard hours
• Zero-tailpipe emissions: work indoors and in emission-restricted zones
- Perfect fit for noise sensitive areas
Uptime you can count on
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- Work a full day – operating time calculator available
- Make the most of every charge: fully electric driveline with energy recovery function and auto-shut off function
- Choice of charging solutions: 0-100 per cent in up to two hours
The best battery technology
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- Lithium-Ion 48V battery – 40kWh
- On-board charging done via Type 1 automotive standard inlet
- Comes with 6kW on-board charger, charging cable, plug and adapters
- Fast charging possibilities
- Can be charged at any State Of Charge (SOC)
- Theft protected fixed battery D
- Designed to deliver up to 2500 full charge cycles
Less maintenance
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- Maintenance-free electric motors, featuring auto shut off to save wear
• Fully electric driveline reduces hydraulic oil need by half
• Easy ground level access to lubrication and maintenance points
- Maintenance-free electric motors, featuring auto shut off to save wear
Work anything, anywhere
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- Perfect fit for confined and narrow spaces
- Wide range of Volvo Attachments
- Attachment bracket with integrated third hydraulic function
- Customisable work modes including traction force, joystick and accelerator pedal sensitivity Maximum speed of 20km/h (12mph)
Proven performance
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- High lifting and breakout forces, superior roll- back and dump angles for bucket applications
- 100 per cent parallel movements, outstanding lifting height and forward visibility for fork applications
- Rigid planetary axles, with 100 per cent mechanical differential locks on the front and rear axles, offer maximum traction and minimal tire wear
- Articulating-oscillating centre joint provides the best off-road capability and stability
The CJD connection
For many years, CJD Equipment and Volvo CE have been supplying premium construction equipment tailored to the specific needs of Australia’s diverse industries.
Their collaboration over 30 years has ensured the delivery of high productivity, fuel efficiency, and safety solutions, enabling machines to operate at peak performance.
CJD Equipment boasts an extensive national support network, guaranteeing comprehensive assistance regardless of location or time.
For further details, please reach out to your local CJD branch at 1300 139 804 or visit cjd.com.au
