The construction sector stands at a crossroads: as urban populations grow and infrastructure demand soars, the drive to reduce CO₂ emissions becomes ever more urgent.
In fact, construction equipment contributes an estimated 16% of all CO₂ emissions globally, marking it as a major focus area for climate action.
According to insights by Mats Sköldberg, Head of Technology at the global construction solutions provider Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), a singular reliance on battery-electric machines will not suffice to revolutionize the industry. Instead, a blend of technologies is required to match each application, region and customer segment.
The complexity of the challenge
As explains: “One-size does not fit all. The opportunity to significantly reduce this carbon footprint lies in construction equipment, yet the complexity of the sector demands more than a one-size-fits-all solution.”
The truth is that customers span urban and remote sites, operate under different infrastructure constraints, and require machines of vastly different sizes and demands.
According to Sköldberg, while “battery-electric machines are certainly a critical part of the mix they simply do not suit every customer, segment or region across the world.”
Why batteries alone won’t do it
Battery-electric machines deliver dramatic gains: zero exhaust emissions, lower noise and vibration, great for busy urban zones and indoor or tunnelling work. Yet, as the commentary by Sköldberg notes, there are key limitations:
- Larger machines (excavators, haul trucks) demand huge battery capacity and charging downtime, which might not be feasible everywhere.
- In regions with weak grid infrastructure, charging may be slow or impossible.
- A singular technology focus risks leaving entire segments behind—machines and environments ill-suited to battery-only solutions.
The case for a multi-technology approach
Volvo CE’s outlined approach that embraces multiple powertrains:
- Grid-connected machines— For static or repetitive tasks (e.g., in recycling yards), machines connected directly to electricity grids offer zero exhaust, minimal noise/vibration and don’t require refuelling or batteries large enough for autonomous operation.
- Hydrogen fuel-cell systems— Particularly in regions without strong grid or charging infrastructure, hydrogen fuel-cells may generate electricity onboard via stored hydrogen. Volvo CE points out that pairing hydrogen and battery-electric options “we can better adapt to varying market and infrastructure capabilities.”
- Renewable-fuel internal-combustion engines and hybrids— In some cases, Sköldberg notes that conventional engines powered by biodiesel, hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) or even green hydrogen still have a role, at least in a transitional phase.
- Hybrid machines— As an intermediate step, hybrid machines allow early CO₂ reductions while full zero-emission solutions mature in certain markets.
By offering this mix, construction-equipment manufacturers can meet today’s unique operational demands and gear up for broader sustainable transformation.
What this means for the industry
According to Sköldberg’s analysis, the path forward is less about picking the “winning” technology today and more about orchestrating the right mix for each scenario.
He emphasises that “by investing in diverse technologies, we offer solutions that address each customer’s unique needs today, while gearing up for the challenges of tomorrow.”
In practical terms, that means:
- In dense urban environments or indoor worksites, battery-electric machines may be the prime candidate.
- In remote regions or where the grid is weak, hydrogen or renewable-fuelled machines may be more viable.
- Static sites like recycling plants may make best use of grid-connected or hybrid machines.
- Policymakers, infrastructure developers and OEMs must collaborate: addressing machine design alone will not eliminate CO₂ if charging or hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is absent. Sköldberg makes clear that “addressing the construction sector’s carbon footprint is complex and it goes far beyond the electrification of machines.”
By this logic, the true transformation of the construction industry will come through integration — of machine technologies, fuel or power sources, infrastructure, policy frameworks, and customer-specific solutions — rather than a single technology leap.
