An electric excavator is just one of the new environmentally efficient additions being trialled on a Melbourne road upgrade project
Contractor Symal is trialling a fleet of electric construction equipment on Melbourne’s Pakenham Roads Upgrade.
The pilot features a Sany SY19E electric excavator, tip truck, hybrid utes and portable charging infrastructure.
The vehicles are charged on site by a mains power generator, with a full charge giving the vehicles between 8–10 hours of runtime.
Early modelling shows these electric vehicles alone could reduce carbon emissions by 10 tonnes a year, while decreasing potentially harmful diesel particulates for workers within the project site.
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Project crews are currently completing the new-look culverts over Pakenham Creek to allow Racecourse Road to reopen later this month.
In the new year, the new Racecourse Road southbound lanes between Henry Street and Bald Hill Road will open ahead of the completion of the intersection at Bald Hill Road and Racecourse Road.
The intersection is being upgraded with a set of traffic lights, allowing easier access through this area of Pakenham.