Volvo CE partners with Hitachi Energy

Volvo Construction Equipment and Hitachi Energy said on May 26 they had signed a memorandum of understanding to work on zero-emission construction sites built around battery-electric machinery, charging systems and site-level power management. The companies said the agreement is non-exclusive and centered on assessing technical and commercial concepts rather than announcing a turnkey product or a project award. Both companies described the effort as a way to combine electric machines with power supply, charging, energy storage and operational integration in one site setup. ### What exactly did the two companies agree to do? The May 26 releases from Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy said the companies will assess concepts that support zero-emission construction and manufacturing operations. The scope includes system integration, site-level operational execution, business models, go-to-market approaches, and aftermarket and support considerations, the companies said. (volvoce.com) Hitachi Energy said the work will be done on a non-exclusive basis. Volvo CE said the aim is to make electric construction equipment “a practical, on-site reality” by addressing power supply, charging, energy management and operational integration as one system. ### If this is not a turnkey rollout, what is it? The agreement is an MOU, not a disclosed equipment order, construction contract or named pilot site. (volvoce.com) Hitachi Energy said joint teams from both companies will assess potential concepts, while Volvo CE’s release said the initial focus is business- and go-to-market-oriented and aimed at practical, plug-and-play approaches. Equipment World, citing the announcement, reported the companies plan to develop zero-emission construction sites by linking electric machines and power infrastructure. Electrek reported the collaboration was framed around support for deployment rather than an immediate standardized project package. ### Why does site power planning sit at the center of this deal? (hitachienergy.com) Volvo CE said zero-emission construction requires “a coordinated ecosystem of solutions” between machines, electrical infrastructure and energy management systems. Hitachi Energy said the collaboration focuses on system integration and site-level operational execution, language that points to how charging, load balancing and power availability would need to be managed together on an active job site. (equipmentworld.com) Electrek reported that moving battery-electric plant onto a site changes daily planning by adding charging strategy, load management, cable routing and battery safety to workface decisions. That description is consistent with the companies’ emphasis on operational integration and support systems rather than on the machine alone. ### Which parts of the construction workflow could change first? (volvoce.com) Charging infrastructure is one likely early pressure point because electric excavators, loaders and haul equipment need scheduled access to power as well as physical room for chargers and cables. The companies said the collaboration covers charging, energy management and support systems, which suggests planning would extend beyond equipment procurement into site layout and operating routines. (electrek.co) Aftermarket support is another named workstream. Hitachi Energy said the scope includes aftermarket and support considerations, and Volvo CE said the goal is to simplify the customer transition, indicating that uptime, service coverage and operating support are part of the discussion. (volvoce.com) ### What happens next? Joint teams from Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy are set to work on technical and commercial concepts under the MOU, according to the companies’ May 26 statements. The named next steps are business models, go-to-market approaches, and aftermarket and support planning, with no project value, delivery date or customer site disclosed in the releases. (volvoce.com) (hitachienergy.com)