Gradall has unveiled an electrified concept model of its multipurpose, highway speed wheeled excavator, powered by Volvo Penta’s electric driveline, at ConExpo
North American telescopic boom excavator manufacturer Gradall Industries exhibited an electrified concept version of its XL 4100 V highway speed wheeled excavator called the EL41H4.
The concept machine is powered by two Volvo Penta batteries, matched to the duty cycle of the excavator. The electric driveline system from Volvo Penta also includes the complete high voltage system — electric motors, gearboxes, inverters, junction boxes and cabling.
Unlike a traditional hydraulic excavator, Gradall’s highway speed solution features a telescopic boom mounted next to a separate cab sitting to the rear of a road-going chassis that allows the machine to be independently dispatched to many locations throughout the workday, rather than requiring a low loader for transport.
With a hydraulic system powered by a Volvo Penta-supplied electric machine power take-off, this concept machine can effectively use battery power to transport its own excavator. The system will deliver 94kWh of energy, and with the increased likelihood of the EL41H4 operator returning to the yard between jobs or for lunch, the potential is high for opportunity charging, or reaching full capacity in under 45 minutes from a 150kW charger.
The unique highway speed design – and its suitability for work in environments where knuckle boom models may not be the ideal fit for operation, such as under overhead obstructions like power lines – means the concept has huge potential for application to other designs in the Gradall portfolio. Currently, the EL41H4 is still a concept machine and further testing and development is required before the next steps can be decided.
The partnership between Volvo Penta and Gradall began in 2014 when Volvo Penta became the exclusive supplier of five and eight-litre Tier 4 Final engines for Gradall’s diesel-powered telescopic boom excavators.
“We were looking for a major power solutions provider with a good track record to partner with,” Gradall president Mike Popovich says.
“We see Volvo Penta as a power partner rather than an engine supplier – this is a turnkey solution to them. We didn’t want to be in a situation where we’re mixing and matching from 10 different suppliers and trying to make it all work seamlessly. Volvo Penta’s full systems approach and expertise, together with proven Volvo Group technology, was the ideal solution for us. This is a natural progression of our existing partnership towards where we’re both heading in the future.”
Volvo Penta Industrial Business Unit president Hannes Norrgren adds: “Expanding our partnership with Gradall into electromobility is an exciting development for us. This is our first electrification project in a construction application, representing another milestone in Volvo Penta’s electromobility journey and aligning with our sustainability ambitions.”