Swerock tests electrically driven trucks for construction

Swerock, a subsidiary of Sweden-based Peab AB, will begin test driving completely electric transportation solutions for the construction industry.

According to a report from the company, Swerock, in collaboration with Volvo Lastvagnar, will run a concrete mixer truck and a hook lift truck in daily operations within two years. The trucks have been produced to meet the growing demand for less noise and emissions, particularly in sensitive urban areas. 

The concrete mixer electric truck will be based at Kållered’s quarry and will deliver Swerock’s ECO-Betong to customers in the Gothenburg area, while the hook lift truck will do internal transportation around the quarry and to larger infrastructure projects nearby.

“This investment is an important step in achieving climate neutral transportation and is perfectly aligned with our environmental goal of becoming climate neutral by 2045,” says Elisabet Stadler, environmental manager Peab Group. “We want to generate zero emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Since domestic transportation stands for about a third of the total emissions of greenhouse gases in Sweden, using electric trucks can have a considerable positive effect.” 

Using Volvo’s electric trucks reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 8,000 tons annually per truck, calculated on 8,300 Swedish miles driven annually. This is compared to trucks that run on diesel. In addition, electric trucks do not emit any nitrogen oxides or particles.

Electric trucks for urban transport are already offered by Volvo and it believes electrification can also be a viable alternative for heavier trucks.

“Trucks in the construction segment typically require more power and robustness than many other segments, and electric trucks are no exception,” says Jonas Odermalm, vice president electromobility at Volvo Trucks. “Our commercial solutions need to meet the demands for high productivity and uptime, while delivering on the benefits of reduced emissions and less noise that comes with a full electric driveline.”