It’s easy to talk about the importance of change. Now it’s time to act, and Volvo Group is leading the way. From connected technologies that help customers learn more from their operations to innovative equipment and electric machinery – change starts here with Volvo Construction Equipment and CJD Equipment.
The journey towards a more sustainable construction industry is well underway. We are searching for new, innovative solutions that are efficient and productive, but also environmentally friendly. Sustainability is at the forefront of many operational decisions and now more than ever, long-term partnerships with companies that are equally passionate about innovation and sustainability are crucial.
The Volvo Group has always been passionate about building the world we want to live in. Volvo has been addressing sustainability for years, by putting lower-emission engines in their machines, adding features that reduce fuel consumption, and developing telematics systems that help operators reduce fuel usage and machine idling time.
In 2020, the Group also made a commitment to net-zero value chain emissions by 2050 as part of its Science Based Targets (SBTi). Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is actively pursuing a net-zero target by 2040, 10 years earlier than the SBTi commitment. As most Volvo products have an average customer use-phase of 10 years, to meet the 2050 goal, all products delivered after 2040 must already be carbon neutral.
As the Volvo CE national distributor in Australia, CJD Equipment is excited to be on the journey with Volvo CE towards a net-zero future, and is working with local customers to explore new, sustainable ways of site management – an important first step to driving the change needed in the construction industry.
Volvo CE has a clear roadmap to meet its agreed net-zero targets, and Australian customers can experience some of Volvo CE’s innovative solutions right here, right now with more new products and services planned for the market soon.
“At CJD Equipment, our 30-year partnership with Volvo and their commitment to transforming the industry to a sustainable, net-zero future allows us to assist our customers in many ways,” says Grayden Leaver, Executive General Manager Sales and Marketing, CJD Equipment.
“In the past 12 months, Volvo has taken huge strides in electromobility, alternative fuels, and fossil-free steel, and we are having discussions with customers around the journey CJD Equipment and Volvo are on in this space.”
Change starts with: Connected technologies
Data is a powerful tool and can drive more sustainable operations. By harnessing the full power of machine data and site analytics, customers can proactively identify inefficiencies before they occur and make significant improvements to safety, uptime, and fuel efficiency on their job site.
This is achievable with the Volvo Co-Pilot interactive display on Volvo machinery, which offers real-time insights into the work being performed. Combined with a reliable telematics system and suite of connected technologies through Volvo Assist software, customers have access to all the information they need to establish a highly sustainable, productive, and more profitable site.
Volvo Co-Pilot was released in 2016 and works simultaneously with Volvo Assist, which includes Dig Assist for excavators, Load Assist for wheel loaders, and Haul Assist for articulated dump trucks. Co-Pilot’s functionalities are continually evolving with a focus on providing the right tools to maintain an efficient site.
One advancement, CareTrack, a state-of-the-art telematics system, is now fitted as standard with general purpose Volvo machinery. This package unlocks a range of machine monitoring and tracking information, as well as detailed insights into machine use.
“The connected solutions Volvo CE have made available to date, and their ongoing commitment to developing new technologies, gives our customers unique insights into the productivity of their complete site,” Grayden says. “CareTrack gives real-time data on machine utilisation, fuel consumption – even excessive idling – it is a truly valuable resource to drive machine efficiency.”
The Efficient Load Out function is one of the latest innovations that builds on Volvo Co-Pilot’s Connected Map feature and enables trucks and excavators to communicate more effectively with one another on the job site. By doing so, this can ensure trucks only depart for their destination once a target weight has been reached, reducing the number of trips necessary, and thereby reducing the associated emissions. Connected Map itself also provides a visual overview of the position of every machine, vehicle, and visitor on a site to enhance safety and identify problems before they occur.
Technology and data can be collected with ease, and the advantages can be experienced right away. By offering greater visibility, these technologies provide a vital step towards a carbon neutral future.
Change starts with: Innovative equipment
Hybrid technology is quickly becoming more accessible in the construction industry and is a simple and effective way to optimise fuel efficiency.
Volvo’s unique hydraulic-hybrid technology is available on selected excavators, including the 30-tonne EC300E hybrid excavator, which is available now in Australia. Volvo CE also has a plan in place to expand the hybrid excavator range over the coming years.
Volvo’s hybrid technology is controlled automatically and is an uncomplicated system with minimal add-on components. This eliminates the need for additional operator training. The free energy generated by the excavator’s boom-down motion is stored in hydraulic accumulators and used to assist in the excavator’s boom-up motion. This is where the most pressure and power is required during operations.
When used in high-production dig and dump applications, the hybrid EC300E excavator delivers up to a 15 per cent reduction in fuel consumption, with up to a 12 per cent decrease in carbon dioxide emissions when compared to a conventional diesel machine in the same application, without any loss of power or performance.
“Currently, we have the Hybrid EC300E excavator available to customers,” Grayden says. “This hybrid technology offers rapid payback, especially when digging from a bench within a 90-degree swing, with the same levels of controllability and performance as the standard EC300E. You have the ECO and Hybrid mode on and away you go. We also have the Hybrid EC250E and Hybrid EC350E available as indent orders.”
In addition to hybrid technology, Volvo CE’s latest machine models are equipped with Stage-V engines as standard. These engines have reduced emissions with the latest technology geared towards efficiency, and provides a lower total cost of ownership, increased reliability, and reduced maintenance.
World’s first vehicle made with fossil-free steel
The world’s first vehicle made of fossil-free steel was unveiled in October 2021. Built in collaboration with SSAB in Volvo CE’s facility in Sweden, this machine demonstrated that a green transition is possible, and that partnerships play an important role in transforming the construction industry.
With steel being a major component of all Volvo CE machines, this was a necessary step for net-zero emissions in the value chain. In June 2022, Volvo CE also became the first manufacturer in the world to deliver a machine made with fossil-free steel to a customer. At CONEXPO in Las Vegas in March this year, Volvo CE handed over the keys of an A30G articulated hauler made from fossil-free steel to a North American customer.
Change starts with: Electric machinery
Electric machines are no longer a niche option and Volvo CE believes that electromobility has the power to change the way we do business. This is a direction many manufacturers of construction equipment are actively pursuing.
Volvo CE has the widest range of compact electric construction equipment in the market, and electric machines are proving to be a reliable and emission-free solution for customers today. Volvo CE’s electric compact machines have been commercially available since 2020 and have been used successfully in more than 22 countries.
Purpose-built and designed to be used in the same applications as equivalent diesel machines, the compact electric range offered by Volvo CE currently consists of the ECR18, EC18, and ECR25 excavators, and the L20 and L25 wheel loaders.
In the mid-sized range, the 23-tonne EC230 electric excavator has been released in selected markets, and Volvo CE has developed a solution to convert the diesel L120 wheel loader to electric. The new L120 electric conversion kit offers the upside of emission-free operation with the same high performance. This is planned to be commercially available for selected customers in Europe during 2023, with global expansion in the near future.
At present, this electric machinery is not yet offered in Australia, but Grayden says there are plans in motion to change that.
“One of CJD Equipment’s major targets is the commercial launch of the Volvo compact electric range in the next 12 months,” he says. “We are very excited about this project, and we are spending a lot of time with our customers in the areas of site management and productivity services to understand electric implementation processes and how we can assist with more sustainable options in the industry.”
Electric machinery offers numerous benefits beyond zero emissions. Some of the features highlighted by early adopters of electric equipment include quiet operation, less vibration, reduced operator fatigue, instant torque, and reduced maintenance intervals.
With low noise and zero emissions, electric equipment can be used in applications where diesel-powered construction equipment is impractical, such as indoors or in noise restricted areas.
Change starts with: Actions, not words
Bringing electromobility to the construction industry is not without its challenges – there is much more the industry needs to do to drive and fully implement these changes. The biggest hurdle lies in changing people’s mindsets, and changing the way they work.
While environmental requirements and regulations are more common in Europe, they’re starting to gain traction in Australia. Big businesses, mining companies, and even local and state governments are all adopting sustainable objectives.
But, in the absence of clear Federal Government regulations around emission standards, and lack of incentives to promote the uptake of electric construction equipment, the transformation must come from the industry. The construction industry is responsible for a significant portion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and it has an obligation to adopt new strategies to reduce environmental impacts.
Together, CJD Equipment and Volvo CE offer the solutions you need for a highly productive, sustainable operation while ensuring your machines are performing safely and at their very best. CJD Equipment has an extensive national support network in place to ensure
you are well supported, no matter where or when.
For more information contact your local CJD branch on 1300 139 804 or visit: www.cjd.com.au