Battery powered heavy machinery is one of the potentially viable alternatives to diesel engines in the construction industry – but what is it that makes battery powered construction machinery a strong contender? Read about the main benefits of battery powered alternatives, including reduced greenhouse emissions and safety advantages for operators below.

Lower maintenance costs

Electric motors, like those found in battery powered construction machinery, contain fewer moving parts than their traditional, diesel counterparts. This equates to a lower risk of mechanical failure, less downtime and no need to replace filters or change fuel.

Safer noise level for operators

A huge benefit of battery powered construction machinery is the fact that noise is significantly reduced. Volvo’s ECR25 electric excavator, for example, reduces noise levels from 93dB to 84dB, with a 10dB increase in noise equating to a tenfold increase in sound intensity.

Reducing noise on construction sites is always a good thing, as high levels of noise can cause lasting damage to on-site operators, including tinnitus, and hearing protection alone is not enough to protect against permanent damage.

Battery powered machinery eliminates exhaust emissions

While battery powered construction machinery uses fossil fuels indirectly, exhaust emissions are reduced by 100%. This is good news for air quality, as greenhouse gas emissions can be hazardous to health, particularly in dense urban areas with high levels of air pollution.

The EU green deal calls for at least a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by the mid-2030s, and Europe’s aim is to be the first climate neutral continent by 2050; battery powered alternatives could be a game changer, with the construction sector, globally, accounting for 38% of total energy related co2 emissions.

Volvo and Skanska’s Electric Site

Volvo and their customer, Skanska, aimed to create an ‘emission-free’ quarry called Electric Site. Tested in Sweden over a period of 10 weeks, Electric Site showed a 98% reduction in carbon emissions, as well as a 70% drop in energy costs and 40% cut in operator costs, through the use of Volvo’s battery powered construction machinery.

No noise nuisance for others

The reduction in noise brought about by battery powered construction machinery means that sites can extend or change their operational hours without breaking antisocial noise limits. In the UK, councils can serve notices on people carrying out noisy construction or demolition, and a failure to comply with a noise level notice can result in prosecution and fines of unlimited amounts. Battery powered machinery circumvents this issue and is less of a nuisance to people in surrounding areas, especially in residential areas or busy commercial hubs.

Less disruptive to local wildlife

Did you know, noise pollution can make it difficult for animals to navigate, find food and reproduce? Wild animals can suffer from a whole host of problems caused by excessive noise pollution, even threatening biodiversity. Quieter, battery-powered heavy duty machinery, in both urban and rural areas, can lessen the human impact on surrounding wildlife.

At Jaytrac, we have over 25 years of experience supplying replacement components for heavy duty machinery, including Volvo and Komatsu construction machinery. For more information about how we can supply you with high quality parts, get in touch today at 01604 491 133 or email us at sales@jaytrac.co.uk. Alternatively, fill out our online enquiry form and our team will be in touch.