Transport for London (TfL) and construction firm FM Conway have launched a trial to replace diesel-powered excavators and wheel loaders with electric alternatives at construction sites in the UK capital. The six-week trial aims to evaluate whether mobile charging can effectively power the vehicles on-site.
The machines, supplied by Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), will be charged using mobile units provided by British startup Charge Fairy. According to TfL, the system deploys a charging van to construction sites, allowing the vehicles to recharge within an hour. “Developments in how vehicles on construction sites are powered and charged could revolutionise how the capital’s transport network is built, ensuring London is greener and healthier for all,” TfL stated.
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The trial, which began in late February, is being conducted at three construction locations in Redcliffe Gardens. TfL notes that switching to electric construction vehicles could significantly improve air quality, as diesel-powered excavators generate emissions equivalent to more than 100,000 passenger cars.
“The health of everybody in London is central to our work, and we are determined to meet our 2030 net zero targets,” said Carl Eddleston, TfL’s Director of Network Management and Resilience. “The trial of electric construction vehicles at Redcliffe Gardens is such a vital part of achieving our goals, and our work with FM Conway, Volvo CE, and Charge Fairy shows how construction across our transport network can be environmentally conscious.”
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Charge Fairy Founder Ed Lea added, “We’ve long advocated that bringing energy to electric vehicles can make more sense than taking the vehicle to a charger—nowhere is this more true than with construction equipment.”
