The electrification of construction sites marks a milestone on the path to an increasingly climate-friendly construction industry. Electrified construction machinery and vehicles play an important role; a challenge lies in the safe energy supply for them. Significant research and development work is needed to find optimal solutions here.
Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, along with representatives from SWIETELSKY, Kallinger, MIBA, and the Austrian Automotive Transformation Platform (AATP), was able to personally witness one of these research projects at a low-emission demonstration construction site in Vienna.
The research project "maxE" aims to meet the daily energy needs of construction sites with battery-electric vehicles and machines. Currently, a trial operation with newly developed mobile charging stations is taking place at construction sites in Vienna and Upper Austria. The transition to electric construction machinery reduces greenhouse gas emissions at construction sites by two-thirds.
Even though the market for electrically operated machines in the compact and small equipment segment is steadily growing, much research and development work is still needed to ensure energy supply, storage, and distribution.
“There are adjustments to construction site processes. For widespread implementation, it is important that recognizable positive effects always go hand in hand with at least constant productivity and economic benefits,” explains Leopold Winkler, Head of Innovation & Transformation at Swietelsky AG.
Peter Krammer, CEO of Swietelsky AG, notes: “Sustainable construction site operations must be thought of holistically. Research projects like MaxE with equipment manufacturers and industry representatives help us bring new and more environmentally friendly energy carriers to the construction site."
