Volvo Construction Equipment tests 50-ton EC500 Electric excavator in Norway

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has launched customer testing of the first EC500 Electric pre-production electric excavator in Norway. This 50-ton electric excavator, capable of both battery-powered and grid-connected operation, will undergo validation in real-world working conditions during this testing phase.

From a product positioning perspective, the EC500 Electric is a 50-ton electric excavator that matches the performance of the conventional EC500 while introducing an electric drive solution. The machine is equipped with a 35-meter cable reel, prioritizing grid power with onboard battery support when connected; in the absence of a grid connection or under limited power supply conditions on site, the battery can still sustain operations such as movement, loading/unloading, and repositioning after blasting. Battery capacity supports 2-3 hours of operation depending on application and operating conditions, and is equipped with intelligent grid energy management functionality.

The EC500 Electric's intelligent electrical system is designed for 400V grid conditions and can adapt to various grid states. The battery system supports peak shaving and valley filling, and can also accommodate grid fluctuations, enabling construction sites to reduce dependence on large-capacity power infrastructure. This lowers customers' investment costs in power supporting facilities and enhances the feasibility of electric solutions in 50-ton equipment applications.

Currently, this pre-production machine is operating at customer sites under demanding conditions such as quarrying, road construction, and tunnel engineering. Through collaboration in real-world operations, Volvo CE aims to collect feedback on machine behavior, operational performance, charging and grid connection, operator experience, and site integration. Insights from these Norwegian customer tests will be directly incorporated into final product development, enabling the EC500 Electric to be finalized according to actual site requirements.

According to the plan, sales of the EC500 Electric are expected to begin in spring 2027, with volume deliveries starting by the end of 2027.