Volvo CE: Offering Electric & Fuel-Efficient Road Construction Equipment

Volvo CE India offers advanced equipment with electric and fuel-efficient technologies to enhance road construction efficiency.
Dimitrov Krishnan - Managing Director, Volvo CE India
What is the way forward for OEMs like Volvo CE in making road construction more efficient, durable, and sustainable?
Developments around heightened environmental consciousness, increased focus on roadway infrastructure, and regulations on emissions are increasingly directing the industry towards continuous innovations in green technologies. CE manufacturers are therefore integrating smart technologies, such as GPS-guided machine control and real-time monitoring, into heavy equipment to enhance productivity and safety while ensuring minimal waste and operational costs. Manufacturers of construction equipment also share the huge responsibility of contributing to Viksit Bharat goals through advancing sustainable road construction and infrastructure for the future.
As the government emphasizes eco-friendly infrastructure and implements stricter emission regulations, such as the upcoming Construction Equipment Vehicles (CEV) Stage V norms, there will be a significant shift toward electric and hybrid solutions. In addition to compliance, the integration of advanced digital technologies like IoT and telematics will be vital for optimizing equipment usage and reducing waste. This shift reflects a broader commitment to sustainability that aligns with the country’s larger net-zero goals.

At Volvo CE, we are leading this green revolution by adopting electric and fuel-efficient equipment, and by exploring alternative fuel technology. Our range of products not only meet the evolving regulatory standards but also set new benchmarks for environmental responsibility. We will continue to expand our range of electric and hybrid products, aimed at enhancing energy efficiency through advanced technologies, and integrating circular economy principles in our product lifecycle management. Our goal is to achieve 35% fully electric sales by 2030 and attain net-zero emissions across our entire value chain by 2040.
What features and technologies is Volvo CE India integrating into its machines to boost productivity, fuel-efficiency, and sustainability?
The investment in our facilities is a key part of our strategy to drive the transformation toward more sustainable solutions and meet our science-based target commitments. We aim to be fossil-free and have 35% of our machine sales become electric by 2030. In fact, investing in our facilities is a crucial step on our electrification roadmap.
Our products are engineered to boost productivity while reducing emissions, energy consumption, and waste. Our range of products also comes with advanced features like engine auto shutdown, which optimizes fuel use by automatically turning off the engine during prolonged idling. Such measures help to significantly lower environmental impact without compromising productivity.
We are also exploring the use of alternative fuels to improve efficiency and cut emissions from our diesel engine range of products. Additionally, we utilize data analytics and telematics to enhance equipment usage, reduce idle time, and increase overall energy efficiency.

Contractors often shy away from adopting advanced technology due to the higher initial cost. To some extent, they are justified in minimizing the initial investment, especially when they secure projects through the L1 system. Understanding this situation, how are you partnering with contractors to provide them with the best possible solutions, aiding them in completing road projects on time, economically, and with quality?
Volvo CE recognizes the challenges of customer adoption to newer, advanced technologies and the cost-sensitivity. We are addressing these issues through innovative business models such as Equipment as a Service (EaaS), which is a flexible usage-based contract with uptime assurance. Through EaaS, we encourage customers to embrace electric equipment and sustainable solutions by making it convenient to pay only when utilizing the machinery at a fixed hourly rate. This model helps overcome the initial cost barrier and makes sustainable technologies more accessible to the industry.
We are working closely with our customers to address the challenges and make the transition to sustainable products more convenient.