Volvo CE Previews ConExpo 2023 Display

January 30, 2023

Matt Wolfe

Volvo CE previewed its display for ConExpo 2023 in Las Vegas with a teaser of the new DD25 electric compact double-drum asphalt compactor. The DD25 will be the company’s first electric machine designed specifically for the asphalt industry and will be unveiled during the show in March. Volvo expects the DD25 to be available in select markets by early 2024.

“We are committed to being a fossil-free company by 2040,” said Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE. “We want to help our customers be prepared for the change by showcasing our wide range of commercially available electric machines packaged with related charging infrastructure and other sustainable power alternatives.” Volvo CE is reportedly targeting to have at least 35% of its total range of machines fully electrified by 2030.

Rolling on

A compact double-drum asphalt compactor is intended for small scale projects such as street repairs and patching, as well as parking lots and driveways. The DD25 Electric is based on the same architecture and components as Volvo CE’s ECR25 Electric compact excavator and L25 Electric compact wheel loader, which were launched in 2020.

Volvo CE states that the DD25 Electric offers 24 kW of power, which is reportedly 30% greater than the conventional Volvo DD25B. The company also states that this increased power provides better performance on steep grades, as well as at high elevations, compared to an ICE machine. Compaction frequency can be adjusted from 3500 vpm/55 Hz to 4000 vpm/67 Hz depending on the application.

The DD25 features an integrated on-board charger which enables charging from 0 to 100% in as little as three hours depending on the level of AC service. An off-board DC fast charger is optional and can reportedly replenish a depleted pack in just over an hour. Volvo also claims that because the DD25 electric has no ICE propulsion system to service, maintenance requirements are reduced over the traditional compactor.

Volvo CE also will display its 23-ton EC230 Electric mid-size excavator at its ConExpo booth, plus autonomous concepts and a hydrogen fuel cell articulated hauler. Volvo’s F8926, the company’s next series of excavators, also will be unveiled at the show, as will the upgraded version of the L350 wheel loader.

Coming to America

Volvo CE also announced that its L350H wheel loader is coming to North America. “For decades, the L350 has been our flagship loader,” said Eric Yeomans, product manager, wheel loaders, Volvo CE. “We’ve taken a tried-and-true machine and built upon the features that have made it one our customers rely on day after day. These upgrades make it even more efficient and productive.”

Volvo announced several updates to the L350H, including a more responsive hydraulic system that features new lift and tilt cylinders as well as an increased hydraulic working pressure for 10% faster work cycles. The driveline of the LH350 also has received new axles, a more robust upper center hinge bearing, updated frames and an all-new transmission.

The new gearbox enables the third generation OptiShift system as standard. This system integrates Volvo’s reverse-by-braking function and the lock-up function in the transmission to boost fuel efficiency by up to 15%. Efficiency is reportedly further enhanced by an optimized gear shifting ratio and a new converter that delivers outputs of up to 22% more tractive force depending on the selected gear and machine speed.

The L350H still features Volvo’s Z-bar lifting arm with double sealing on each of the pins with a reinforced upper center hinge. Maintenance intervals for the L350H have been extended to 1,000 hours for engine service and 4,000 hours for axle oil changes thanks to a standard axle oil cooler with filtration.

Volvo CE also has upgraded the L350H’s user interface with features such as an integrated weighing app that provides real-time insight into the load of the bucket and payload of the load receiver. Also available is an optional tire pressure monitoring system that enables the pressure and temperature of the tires to be checked from inside the cab.

Three hydraulic modes are available for operators with customizable lockup engagement and rimpull control. A bucket leveling function automatically returns the bucket to level from both dump and curl positions.