Lars Arnold of Volvo answers common questions about battery-electric compact wheel loaders.

As electric compact wheel loaders (CWLs) begin hitting the market, those who are not early adopters understandably have questions. Do these CWLs have the same power as their diesel equivalents? Will charging ruin the flow of my workday? What about maintenance?

You might be surprised by some of the answers.

The more power you can put into your electric machine, the faster it will charge. Think of it like filling your vehicle with a fuel pump versus a gas can.

For optimal charging time, it’s strongly recommended to have a 240-volt, 32-amp Level 2 AC-charging setup that uses an SAE J1772 charging adapter or J plug. If this terminology is new to you, don’t be intimidated. This is the same setup recommended for electric cars, and 240 volts is what many household appliances run on. While you can use a 120-volt outlet, charging will take longer.

A 240-volt, Level 2 AC setup will charge a Volvo L25 Electric CWL in six hours from empty to full. A common household 120-volt outlet will do the job in 24 hours.

Options like off-board fast chargers and solar-powered chargers also are available. AC Level 2 charging is best for battery life, but it’s all about a user’s needs. Of course, research and development will provide a wider range of charging options in the coming months and years. As electric vehicles continue to roll out into the market, improved charging infrastructure will follow suit.

What I would not suggest is charging with a gas-powered generator because that goes against the goal of this machine: to be more environmentally friendly.

This is tough to answer because a compact wheel loader can be used in so many ways. The differences in job site applications significantly can alter how long the batteries last.

I recommend that you charge the batteries whenever you have a pause in your workday (e.g., over lunch). Because we use lithium-ion batteries, they have no memory effect (a reduction in the longevity of a rechargeable battery's charge related to incomplete discharge in previous uses). Therefore, you can top them off during a break and continue working throughout the afternoon or evening.

It’s also best practice to charge from mid-level to full, as opposed to draining the battery completely before recharging. When you charge from 30 percent or 40 percent back up to 80 percent or 100 percent, it’s better for the overall life of the battery. These aren’t the lead-acid or nickel-cadmium batteries used in early versions of electric power tools that were affected by the memory effect. With those batteries, if you didn’t charge them properly, they became useless after a short time. Lithium-ion batteries are more advanced and more forgiving, so it’s fine to charge them back to full whenever the opportunity arises.

For example, I’ve seen customers doing heavy applications that include cutting, grading and large workloads who have worked through the morning and needed a quick charge at lunch. Meanwhile, customers who use the machine intermittently or in lighter applications have found that it can last longer. From our testing, the reported work time is four to six hours, depending on the application.

Another tip is to not run at full throttle all the time because you don’t often need the excessive power. Run in an appropriate rpm range to get the work done without slowing down.

No. Volvo electric CWLs come with auto electric motor shut down. If an operator stops running the machine, the electric motor turns off almost immediately. And to get working again, the electric motor turns on instantly and provides immediate power.

With diesel equipment, operating time is defined by engine runtime, and many of those hours are counted while the machine is idle. Given that, jobs that can rack up 10,000 hours on a diesel machine might only add 6,000 or 7,000 hours to a comparable electric machine. These saved hours lower operating costs and in turn lower total cost of ownership. They help improve resale value, too.

Another benefit is that the lighting on Volvo electric machines (rotating beacons, work lights, travel lights, etc.) are LED, so they’re very low power consumers. This helps extend battery life for the toughest projects.

Some people jump to the conclusion that an electric machine will be inferior to a diesel machine in some way—usually power. But I can assure you that’s not the case at all.

In fact, in addition to maintaining (or in some instances exceeding) the power of comparable diesel models, electric construction equipment offers even more advantages compared with its diesel counterparts.

When it comes to power and performance, the Volvo L25 Electric CWL specifications are nearly identical to its diesel counterpart. One exception is a marginally higher operating weight and a higher static tipping load compared with the diesel model.

We’re not initially offering a high-speed version of this machine to better maintain the battery during a full workday. The maximum speed of the L25 electric wheel loader is set at 12.4 mph. The good news is that high speed isn’t required for most applications. It’s mainly necessary if you have an application when you need to drive from job site to job site without hauling the machine.

One of the most popular aspects of an electric machine is that the electric motors provide instant torque as soon as the operator starts running it. There’s no feeling of a slight delay, which can happen with some diesel machines.

Maintenance is much simpler on an electric machine. For one thing, diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, or other filters are not needed. Essentially, the only supplies required are grease and hydraulic oil. This is much different than a conventional machine that requires engine maintenance such as fluid, filter and component checks as often as every day, with additional preventive fluid and filter maintenance.

Electric components, like the lithium-ion battery, inverter, AC-to-DC power converter, battery management unit and charging plug, just need visual and functional inspections. Any components not working will be replaced rather than repaired.

Because we’re talking about machines using electricity, much of the additional training needed for technicians is about safety. They’ll also need to learn some new concepts and functions, but that’s part of our ever-evolving industry. It’s just like when telematics and in-cab displays started becoming more prominent—technicians in the shop had to learn how to service those components as well.

Overall, the lifetime of battery-electric components should be equal to or better than that of the diesel engine on a conventional machine. Volvo CE conservatively estimates that users will see 35 percent savings in maintenance costs and time over the life of the machines we offer.

Think of all the new and different ways electric CWLs can be used thanks to their zero emissions and lower noise. They can work indoors and outside of normal business hours, plus they have a fast-charging option to work longer hours. These benefits open the doors of possibility for those looking to expand their offerings.

In a business sense, incorporating sustainability measures into your operations will be good for your long-term profitability. More local and state/provincial governments are adopting clean air policies, so if you want better odds of winning those bids, you need to prove that you’re using equipment with reduced or zero emissions.

If you’re concerned about the cost of switching to electric, don’t forget to assess the total cost of ownership (TCO) and not just the purchase price of such a machine. Electric machines offer fuel savings, less maintenance and extended component life—and that’s on top of the additional work you might be able to win because of the sustainability and noise differences.

Eberhard, a company in Zurich, Germany, that offers civil engineering, deconstruction, recycling and remediation of contaminated sites, tried out a Volvo L25 electric CWL last year. The machine was used at a landfill site, as well as for road clearing and small-scale material handling and as a forklift.

The team said they enjoyed its low emissions, silence and minimal vibration. In the future, Eberhard says it plans to use the L25 electric on construction sites in downtown Zurich and at other cities where requests for silence and low emissions are growing.

“As our organization has grown, we wanted to look at alternative machines that don’t rely on diesel,” says Bruno Meier, CEO and owner. “This is our first foray into the world of electric machines, and it’s going well.”

If you have other questions or concerns about how well electric compact wheel loaders could work for your operation, treat it like any other important business decision and connect with your dealer or original equipment manufacturer of choice.

 Lars Arnold is electromobility product manager at Volvo Construction Equipment. More information is available at www.volvoce.com . 

Texas C&D materials and MSW service provider had been acquired by New York-based equity firm in 2019.

The New York office of investment bank Houlihan Lokey says it has played a role in the sale of Texas-based Lone Star Disposal from a New York-based equity fund to Waste Connections Inc., headquartered in Canada. Houlihan Lokey says the transaction closed Aug. 15.

Lone Star had been a portfolio company of J.F. Lehman & Co. (JFLCO) since being acquired by JFLCO in August 2019.

Houlihan Lokey describes Lone Star as a vertically integrated provider of construction and demolition (C&D) and municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal and related environmental services in the Houston market.

“Lone Star’s comprehensive service platform utilizes an asset base consisting of a C&D landfill, an MSW transfer station, a C&D recycling facility and a collection fleet,” the investment bank says. The Lone Star customer base includes regional and national C&D and MSW haulers and C&D contractors serving the Houston area, adds the firm.

Since acquiring Lone Star in 2019, Houlihan Lokey says JFLCO worked with management “to optimize Lone Star’s hauling and disposal operations and enhance the business development function, driving substantial revenue and earnings growth.”

Houlihan Lokey also says it served as financial advisor and assisted in marketing, structuring, and negotiating the transaction on behalf of Lone Star and JFLCO.

“This transaction highlights Houlihan Lokey’s preeminent position and continued success advising clients in the environmental services sector,” the investment bank says. Houlihan Lokey says it has advised on 20 announced environmental services transactions since January 2021.

Global recycling firm grows earnings per share by more than 100 percent, says new fiscal year has started with “soft economic conditions.”

Australia-based Sims Ltd. says in its 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30, the company saw its sales revenue rise by more than 56 percent compared with the previous year while its underlying earnings per share (EPS) rose by 104.5 percent.

“Fiscal year 2022 was a very strong year,” CEO and Managing Director Alistair Field says. “I am proud that we delivered the strongest underlying EBIT [earnings before interest and taxes] result on record and significant trading margin and volume increases and significant trading margin and volume increases.”

He continues, “We made significant progress on our business strategy: successfully completed several strategic acquisitions, continued to deploy enhancement technologies in ferrous and nonferrous and opened new feeder yards in the metal business. In Sims Lifecycle Services (SLS), we launched new service offerings and invested in engineering and technology to continue driving innovation and build capacity to scale up operations quickly when the supply chain challenges ease.”

In a news release announcing its earnings, Sims executives point to what they call “improved safety metrics” and “strong progress” toward sustainability goals in the recently completed fiscal year.

On the operations side, the company points to its acquisitions of Pennsylvania-based Alumisource and Maryland-based Atlantic Recycling Group as new volume contributors going forward. In Australia, Sims is undertaking a deep-water port facility project in Brisbane it says will include “best-in-class design for shredder processing.”

In the U.S., Sims also points to its partnership with California-based SA Recycling as contributing to “record EBIT growth with significant trading margin expansion and sales volume growth.” Referring to shredded metal markets, the company adds, “Margins were further enhanced by higher zorba selling prices.” It also points to SA Recycling’s acquisition activity, saying it has “continued to create value through successful M&A integration.”

In its SLS business unit, the company says a recent global market share study showed SLS is now at 3.2 percent market share, more than doubling from its 1.5 percent status in 2019.

Looking at fiscal year 2023, now underway, Sims Ltd. says in its presentation, “Softer economic conditions have impacted our markets in the short term.” The company adds, “We remain very confident in the medium and long-term fundamentals of the business.”

In the ferrous market, Sims writes, “Ferrous prices peaked at around US$700 per metric ton in March 2022, but have subsequently fallen to trade between US$320 to US$400 per metric ton at the start of fiscal year 2023.”

Regarding the next 12 months, the company's executives conclude, “Fiscal year 2023 results will depend on how quickly and to what magnitude, global markets recover from the interest rate hike-induced slowdown.”

Rajan Kish, the company's chief administrative officer since 2019, will succeed Ronald J. Proto as CEO at the end of 2022.

The Board of Directors of Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery, a Garaventa family company, has announced that Kish Rajan will succeed Ronald J. Proto as CEO at the end of 2022.

Kish has served as the Concord, California-based company’s chief administrative officer since 2019. Prior to that, his career spanned several roles in business and government, including service as director of Gov. Jerry Brown’s office of Business and Economic Development, a term on the Walnut Creek City Council and over a decade in mobile technology business development.

“Ron has been a terrific CEO,” says Silvio Garaventa Jr., vice chairman of Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery’s board of directors. “We appreciate his commitment to our company and our family. He will continue as a consultant after his CEO term ends on December 31, 2022 … Kish’s proven success in business, technology and state policy makes him an excellent choice to continue MDRR’s leadership in our industry. We are very excited about the future. Kish’s term as CEO will begin January 1, 2023.”

With a focus on forward-thinking and innovation, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery has been among the companies leading the march toward meeting California’s waste reduction, sustainability and climate goals.

“I am proud to lead MDRR and all that it stands for,” Proto says. “We continue to build upon our very strong foundation, and I look forward to continuing to work with Kish as the company strives for even greater success ahead.”  

Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery has been a family-owned and operated company since the 1930s. Deeply rooted in the community, the Garaventa family understands the importance of thought leadership and forward-thinking.

Louisa Garaventa Binswanger, a board of directors member, says both Proto and Rajan share the board’s values.

“The Garaventa family first and foremost cares about the communities and people we serve,” she says. “Ron continued this tradition as our CEO during the past four years. I would personally wish to recognize his exemplary leadership. We are prepared for an orderly transition as Kish has demonstrated his commitment to the communities we serve and his ability to lead our family business in the future years.”

The 78,000-square-foot structure first opened in 1968 and housed the offices of nine University of Michigan presidents and interim presidents.

The exterior demolition of the 54-year-old Central Campus building at the University of Michigan (UMich), which was once home to the offices of UM presidents and the site of turbulent student protests, began Aug. 11.

The demolition, which is a part of a greater project to tear down the Fleming Administration Building, is expected to take about a month.

As reported by The University Record, a news publication by UMich, the project includes a strong focus on reusing or recycling materials in line with UM’s sustainability goals. Office equipment, furniture and custodial supplies from Fleming were sold through Property Disposition or redistributed to other buildings, according to UMich Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations Hank Baier. E-waste was also recycled whenever possible.

As the demolition progresses, the university says workers will sort materials on-site for either recycling or proper disposal, including ferrous and nonferrous metals, concrete, brick and block, as well as traditional construction and demolition debris such as wood, drywall, carpeting and roofing materials.

Fleming was considered functionally obsolete before officially closing in early 2022. The $3.4 million demolition project was approved in February.

Crews have spent the past few months abating hazardous materials, removing windows and disconnecting utilities.

Designed by architect Alden Dow, the 78,000-square-foot structure was first opened in 1968. With six floors of office space, the building housed the offices of nine UMich presidents and interim presidents.