Volvo CE’s first commerical electric machine in Asia

The ECR25 electric excavator is the first electric machine to arrive in the Asian market by a major manufacturer, says Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE). The excavator will initially be released in Korea with plans for its release in China, Japan, and Singapore.

The first release will be in Korea due to the market’s increased focus on more sustainable construction solutions (Photo: Volvo CE)

The demand for electric equipment is increasing across the region with a number of incentives - such as emission regulations and government-led initiatives - driving companies to opt for sustainable alternatives to traditional diesel engines.

Volvo CE says that the ECR25 electric excavator is able to match power and performance with zero emissions, is near silence, and offers a much more comfortable work environment for operators.

Korea is said to have been chosen as the first market in Asia due to their adoption of new technologies and innovative ways of working, in addition to its quick response to building an electric charging infrastructure.

Jaetack Lim, head of market Korea at Volvo CE region Asia, said, “Increasingly, authorities are recognizing the need to work more sustainably and embrace new technologies that will allow us to tackle our global climate change crisis with equipment that provides less noise, fewer vibrations and no exhaust fumes.

“We are proud to be leading the charge by being the first major manufacturer to offer electric solutions to a region that is so significant to the global construction equipment market.”

The introduction to the Asia market represents the next step in the company’s ambition to move its range of compact excavators and wheel loaders to electric - eventually stopping entirely new diesel engine-based models.