Turner Construction Company pilots Volvo EC230 Electric Excavator

Turner Construction Company has welcomed the introduction of Volvo Construction Equipment’s EC230 Electric Excavator to a project located in Silicon Valley in Northern California, US.

(Photo: Volvo CE)

This product, one of only four units in North America, is one of the largest mid-size excavators that is currently in series production and entirely powered by electricity.

Evan Walker, Project Executive at Turner Construction Company, expressed the team’s excitement about participating in this pilot initiative.

He stated, “Being part of this pilot program aligns perfectly with our company values, as it allows us to provide valuable input to equipment manufacturers and contribute to the growth of low-emission equipment in the market.”

In comparison to traditional diesel excavators, the Volvo EC230 offers equivalent performance across various aspects such as maximum digging depth, digging reach, travel speed, as well as breakout and tearout force. When fully charged, the EC230 can operate for 5 hours without emitting any carbon dioxide on-site, and it boasts a noise reduction of twice the magnitude.

Over a span of three months, operators from trade partner companies will test the EC230, providing feedback on its performance and suggesting areas for enhancement.

In 2018, Turner Construction Company took a significant step toward reducing jobsite carbon emissions and began piloting various low-carbon technologies across the country.

Emi LaFountain, Sustainability Manager at Turner Construction Company, explained the motivation behind the initiative, “We are fully committed to enhancing the environmental sustainability and resilience of our projects, operations, and overall business.

“This pilot program aligns with our broader objective of reducing carbon emissions from our operations. The transition to electric equipment wherever possible will contribute to a jobsite that is quieter, healthier, safer, and has a lower carbon footprint.”