DRIVING IMPRESSION: Volvo has now ceased the diesel version of its L25 wheeled loader, deciding to place its focus on the entirely electric version with one battery. We give it a whirl.
When it comes to its 5.0t class wheel loader, Volvo is nailing its colours to the mast of battery packs and electricity. Indeed, to be super clear, it has even put ‘Electric’ in the model name. We were able to use the new L25 Electric and take a look at the technology.
Lithium-ion battery
Under the bonnet is a 48V six-cell lithium-ion battery and the corresponding control unit. Volvo suggests a total battery capacity of 40kWh, which it reckons is sufficient for an average of four to five hours of mixed use, excluding idle time. Once the L25 operator is no longer using the steering wheel or joystick, the main electric drive switches off to conserve power. Then as soon as the operator touches the steering wheel and joystick, drive immediately engages again without having to turn the ignition key. Volvo points out that idle times of 15 to 50% are not unusual for this size of machine.
Back under the bonnet: In switch-off mode, 42 the lights, the ventilation system and the display are still powered by a 12V battery so it is best to manually switch off the loader for longer downtimes. This 12V battery is also used to start and stop the charging cycle and provides the starting current for activating the battery pack when the machine starts. The battery is maintenance-free and, because there isn’t a diesel burner, there is no engine oil or fuel filters to look after. Volvo offers a two-year or 2,000-hour warranty, which can be extended by a further five years.
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