Volvo CE is part of a pioneering Swedish consortium that has joined the Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative to highlight how electric construction equipment can advance and support a more sustainable infrastructure in the U.S.

The Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative is a collaborative program launched by Business Sweden, the Embassy of Sweden in the USA, the Swedish Energy Agency, and Sweden's innovation agency Vinnova. The newly formed consortium includes industry leaders Volvo CE, Atlas Copco Group, and Husqvarna Construction, marking a major step in the effort to decarbonize the construction industry.

This initiative focuses on demonstrating the potential of electric construction machinery, with the first project concentrating on constructing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the United States using only electric, battery-powered equipment.

The consortium is leading the charge in developing cutting-edge electric construction equipment. Volvo CE offers electric excavators and wheel loaders, Atlas Copco provides portable air compressors and energy storage systems, and Husqvarna Construction contributes concrete power cutters.

"Volvo CE is advancing sustainable power in the construction industry with our lineup of low- and zero-emission heavy equipment, yet we know collaboration will be critical to bring about the type of holistic change that is truly needed," said Ray Gallant, Vice President, Product Management and Productivity at Volvo CE North America. "We’re excited to join other well-respected, like-minded companies to demonstrate how these more sustainable alternatives can be used to help deliver the infrastructure improvements we need."

Bert Derom, President of Atlas Copco's Portable Air Division, also emphasized the industry's shift, stating, "The future of construction equipment is electric. There may not be an electric alternative for every application yet, but in Atlas Copco Group, we already have a wide range of electric solutions available and are committed to further developments. We are proud to be delivering real-world solutions to help our customers and their customers adopt a more energy-efficient way of working."

Husqvarna Construction's President, Karin Falk, added, “We look forward to contributing our expert knowledge along with equipment and diamond tools from the light construction industry to support this journey toward creating low CO2 emission construction sites. This partnership is a great opportunity to show how we can support the construction industry to lower its fossil dependency.”

The Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative, which aims to accelerate Swedish-American collaboration for a low-carbon economy, has been actively showcasing innovative solutions since the opening of its Washington, DC office in November 2022. This partnership promotes sustainable solutions across various sectors, with the goal of paving the way for a greener future.