an electric decade in construction · acceleration in the adoption of innovative construction...

An Electric Decade in Construction

How can construction bounce back for the better post COVID-19

Executive Summary

2020 marks the start of a significant decade of change in the construction industry – one in which electrification and emissions reductions will dominate.

EU member states have collectively set a 2050 net zero emissions target, with many countries having strict 2030 targets. This is putting pressure on all sectors to decarbonise. As one of the most significant contributors to carbon emissions, the construction industry is particularly impacted by changing legislation and climate targets and therefore must act quickly to move away from fossil fuel dependency.

Contents

Executive Summary 3

Report Contributors 4

Legislation Perspectives in Northern Europe 6

Construction: An Electric Future 8

1.0 Introduction 10

2.0 Part I – COVID-19 Recovery 11

2.1 Downing tools

2.2 Building back better

2.3 Safety refined

2.4 Embracing innovation

3.0 Part II – Electric Future 14

3.1 Speed

3.2 Safety

3.2.1 Air pollution

3.2.2 Noise Pollution

3.3 Sustainability

3.4 Simplicity

3.4.1 Adopting a ‘modern methods approach’

An Electric Decade in Construction, which includes views from 15 industry experts across Europe, has found that the next ten years will be centred around four key themes:

The transition to electric construction machinery will be aided by battery technology developments taking place in the automotive industry. Lithium-ion batteries are fast becoming more efficient, reliable and cost effective. This will increase the range of applications where battery electric construction machinery can be applied and help accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

This research has clearly and unequivocally found that the next decade will be shaped by a rapid transition to cleaner methods of construction. Now is the time for the industry to take a leading role in achieving a more sustainable future.

SpeedGovernments are looking towards the construction sector to stimulate economic growth in the recovery from COVID-19. Construction will need to be ramped up to meet the growing demand for infrastructure across Europe. This will see an acceleration in the adoption of innovative construction processes, including the switch to electric equipment.

SustainabilityWithin the great challenges that the pandemic has brought, lies a rich opportunity for the construction industry to build back better, with a focus on cleaner construction that is in line with pressing climate targets. The industry demand for zero emission electrified equipment will grow rapidly throughout the next decade.

SafetyCOVID-19 has brought a renewed focus on workplace safety within the industry. A greater consideration of the dangers of air pollution as well as the transition to more time spent off-site will become more common in construction projects across Europe. This will see the move away from noisy, polluting diesel engines and generators towards cleaner, quieter electrified machinery.

SimplicityA more streamlined and cost-effective approach to construction is expected in the coming decade. Lower fuel and maintenance costs and being future proofed against the ever-changing legislative landscape, will drive the construction industry towards electrified equipment. There will also be an uptick in demand for a ‘modern methods’ approach to construction, using prefabricated, standardised building components developed off-site, to simplify and clean up construction processes.

Stephen Irish, Commercial Director at Hyperdrive Innovation.

An Electric Decade in Construction How can construction bounce back for the better post COVID-194 5

Report Contributors

Jaimie Johnston, Director & Head of Global Systems at Bryden Wood.

Ida Karlsson, Chalmers University of Technology.

Dominique Chevillard, Research & Technical Director at Fédération Nationale des Travaux Publics (FNTP).

Ronald Vlaar, Senior Sales Manager at Asjes B.V.

Pascal Martin-Daguet, Chief Operating Officer at Colas Group.

Gunde Odgaard, Head Secretariat at BAT Kartellet.

John Gill, Chief Manufacturing Officer at Snorkel.

Michael Cross, Head of Partnerships & Innovation at Willmott Dixon.

Stefan Schneider, Co-Managing Director at Suncar HK AG.

Caroline Gumble, CEO at The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Kristoffer Hofling, Nordic Business Development Engineer at NCC.

Hans Säll, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Development, NCC.

Anne-Marie Frissen, Infrastructure Policy Advisor at Bouwend Nederland.

Mike Pitts, Deputy Challenge Director at Transforming Construction, Innovate UK.

Filip Fidler, NPD Buyer at Doosan Bobcat.

UK

FRANCE

GERMANY

SCANDINAVIA

THE NETHERLANDS

Norway

Sweden

Denmark

Finland

Legislation Perspectives in Northern Europe


• Climate target: Cut emissions by 49% by 2030 (from to 1990 levels).

• Air pollution: Annual mean concentration of PM2. 5 is 12 µg/m3, exceeding the recommended maximum of 10 µg/m3

• Mobile construction equipment is responsible for 10 percent of the health damage caused by dirty air

• Climate target: Net Zero emissions by 2050

• Emissions zones: Over 10 cities have planned emissions zones

• Air pollution: Construction accounts for 7.5% NOX, 8% PM10 and 14.5% PM2.5 emissions

• Climate target: Cut GHG emissions by near 55% by 2030

• Norway’s major cities, Olso and Bergen both have low emission zones

• All construction sites to be completely emission free by 2030 in Oslo


• Emissions Zones: Over 28 cites across the country

• Construction accounts for: - 45% energy consumption - 27% of total GHG emissions

• Climate Target: 55% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 (1990 levels)

• Emissions Zones: Over 58 cites have low emission zones

• Building accounts for 15% of total GHG emissions

• Carbon pricing system in the transport and construction sectors by 2021

• Climate target: Cut emissions by 70% by 2030 (from 1990 levels)

• Multiple cities have low emission zones, including in Copenhagen


• Major cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo have low emissions zones

• The construction sector accounts for 25% of carbon dioxide emissions

• Air pollution: commitment to reduce NOx emissions by 36% and PM 2.5 by 19% by 2030

• Climate target: Carbon neutral by 2035, one of the fastest targets ever set

• Helsinki has a low emission zone

• 600,000 people in Finland are exposed at home to high levels noise pollution

• Aims at 100% fossil free construction sites from 2025

• Construction industry accounts for: - 7.3% of the EU’s employment. - 18 million direct jobs - 9% of the EU’s GDP

• Millions of people in Europe suffer from noise levels that scientists and health experts consider unacceptable

• Built environment accounts for: - 40% of energy consumption - 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU

• 800,000 people die prematurely each year in Europe due to poor air quality

EU

Sustainability Simplicity Safety Speed

Less CO2

Meeting Emissions Targets

Less Maintenance of Machinery

Lower Fuel Costs

Less Air Pollution

Less Noise Pollution

More Flexible Working Hours

Battery Bank


Construction: An Electric Future

1.0 Introduction 2.0 Part I – COVID-19 Recovery

2.1. Downing tools

As countries went into lockdown across the world, almost overnight, many building projects came to a stop, and millions of constructions sites closed. Respected Glennigan data showed that approximately 3,000 sites in the UK alone were closed to all but essential safety and security staff by the middle of April. The direction of travel for the industry was highly uncertain. The pandemic has taken different shapes in different regions and world economies, however as we look to recover from its impacts, key themes have emerged of how the industry will look to bounce back.

2.2. Building back better

As nations’ look to bounce back from the impacts of COVID-19, construction is seen as a method to rejuvenate the economy. In the UK, the government has pledged significant investment into infrastructure and building in its ‘build, build, build’ strategy. This will see the demand for construction increase in the near future. The pandemic has also given us a chance to pause and reconsider how we move forward and build back better post-pandemic. For the construction industry, improving the sustainability and long-term efficiency of buildings and construction has become a priority.

“COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to put sustainability and innovation at the heart of strategies going forward. It has really increased the urgency to improve.”


Project Managers are now looking at developments through a longer-term lens, putting further consideration into how buildings can be designed and constructed in a way that supports the communities that they serve, today and into the future. The majority of a building’s total environmental impact comes after it has been constructed. Implementing measures that increase the overall efficiency of buildings in the long-term, such as improving energy efficiency, will be central to achieving long-term sustainability.

This report is an industry-wide investigation into how the construction industry is predicted to change over the next decade as we adapt to a post-COVID world. We spoke to 15 industry experts, representing industry bodies, machinery innovators, global construction companies and academic institutions, across five key European markets to get their views on the next decade in construction, specifically looking into the impacts of COVID-19 and the trends towards electrification. The findings of this report are derived from topics and issues covered in these interviews and industry wide polling.

The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have been felt by all industries and communities across the globe and the effects will be felt for years to come. Everything from the way that people work, to how buildings and infrastructure is designed and built will never be quite the same again. However, despite the many challenges posed by COVID-19, it’s also become clear that the industry has been presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to rebuild economies and communities in a cleaner, more considerate way.

In many ways, COVID-19 has injected a renewed sense of urgency into existing challenges the industry has faced for years – How do we expand construction to meet demands of population growth and poverty improvements without damaging the environment for future generations? How do we limit the negative impacts the industry has on climate change and modernise in a way that works for people, planet and profit? How does the industry adapt to meet the continuing tightening of emissions legislations and net zero targets? For construction to thrive in the next decade, the industry will have to adapt to address these challenges and do it quickly.

“COVID-19 hasn’t fundamentally shifted the constructions industry’s existing challenges – instead it has made these challenges more acute. This could see the rapid acceleration of innovation and solutions to meet the challenges facing the industry”




2.4. Embracing innovation

The defining challenge for the industry over the next decade is how to reduce emissions across all stages of the construction in line with climate targets. Technological improvements are driving forward the transition to a more productive and efficient construction industry, and COVID-19 could accelerate this transition. COVID-19 has undoubtedly lead to significant delays in building projects at every scale. To make up for lost time, embracing new innovations and construction processes will be vital.

In recent years, there’s been a rapid improvement in battery technology in the automotive and energy sectors and the construction industry is set to benefit from this transition. The variety and quality of electrified construction machinery has increased significantly in recent years and the electric range of equipment will continue to progress over the next decade. Battery costs are reducing as technology continues to advance and power density of batteries is increasing. This makes new applications and developments for battery powered machinery in the construction industry increasingly commercially feasible. This means that electric equipment isn’t just deployed in a limited sense but as an integral component across all phases of construction. Lower running costs, silent engines, zero emissions and future proofing ahead of a changing legislative landscape are all key benefits driving demand for electrified machinery across the construction industry as the sector looks to improve efficiency and performance.

“The construction industry needs to continue to work to improve its efficiency, reduce emissions and support the energy transition – Improving and implementing innovation will be central to this.”

Dominique Chevillard, Research & Technical Director at Fédération Nationale des Travaux Publics (FNTP).

Productivity can also be boosted through adopting technologies that will lengthen the working hours in the day. Noise pollution has long been an issue for construction sites, with strict noise regulations in areas across Europe. By implementing the latest electric equipment which has a silent engine, greatly reducing overall noise levels on site, the extension of workdays can be permitted. This could be critical in turbo charging the recovery from COVID-19 and meeting building deadlines, avoiding potentially expensive extension licences on new and existing projects. 85% of construction industry workers surveyed agreed that using quieter electrified equipment will enable extended working hours.

“The deployment of quieter construction machinery opens up the prospect of extending the hours that certain equipment is permitted. The potential productivity increases this would lead too could be very important.”


COVID-19 has also injected urgency into the push towards cleaner construction equipment, with zero emissions technology expected to grow rapidly in the next decade. 75% of construction workers surveyed agreed that COVID-19 will increase the demand for cleaner equipment. Construction managers are also putting a greater emphasis on reducing the embedded emissions of the materials they use, including shortening supply chains where possible and reconsidering building material production and procurement processes.

“The life cycle impacts of building projects, including procurement, transport and site emissions are becoming increasingly important for securing construction permits. This is driving the push for cleaner, electric equipment across all phases of the construction process.”


2.3. Safety refined

COVID-19 has brought workplace safety into sharp focus in many businesses. Millions of employees are now having to work from home where possible, offices have been restructured to cater for social distancing and workplace safety has moved to the top of the agenda. The construction industry is no different.

“With safety being a core pillar of the sector, the construction industry was already well set up to swiftly adjust to the new safety demands of COVID-19.”


Being largely an ‘outdoor’ industry, working from home isn’t a fully viable option and significant time on site to complete building projects is essential. However, COVID-19 has highlighted the potential to see more work taken off-site in the future. Planning will become a more virtual process with meetings and design taking place online rather than onsite. The shift to a more manufacturing-based construction process will also be accelerated. This involves moving to a standardised approach whereby prefabricated building components are manufactured in a factory setting off-site. This means less time spent overall on site during the construction process, and thus lower transmission risks. An additional benefit is lower emissions and dramatically reduced air pollution onsite – a win-win.

“Greater coordination within supply chains, faster constructions times and improved environmental performance can all be achieved with a more standardised approach to the industry”


In an onsite setting, construction managers’ priority is improving working conditions for the protection of site workers. Exposure to poor air quality has been strongly linked with exacerbating the effects of COVID-19. From an occupational standpoint, construction workers are one of the most exposed groups to dangerous levels of air pollution. Reducing exposure to air pollution onsite, either by altering working patterns or adopting the latest low emission machinery will therefore be high on the agenda for site safety managers. This is set to be a key trend in the industry going forward.

“The switch to electric construction equipment will greatly reduce the levels of dangerous air pollution on site and help create a safer working environment for construction workers,”


More generally, the pandemic has changed the way we think about all aspects of safety in the workplace and at home. More stringent safety measures are expected to proliferate in future years across all sectors, including in construction.


3.2 Safety

For the construction industry, improving safety is and has always been a top priority. It is a multifaceted issue with a host of different considerations for construction managers such as protective equipment and accident prevention. Research for this report identified two prominent safety issues that are set to shape the next decade in construction; air pollution and noise pollution.

“The way we look at health and safety has changed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This will have a positive impact on all aspects of safety on construction sites”

Pascal Martin-Daguet, Chief Operating Officer at Colas Group.

3.2.1 Air pollution

Air pollution is a major cause of premature death and disease and is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe. An estimated 800,000 people die prematurely each year in Europe due to poor air quality. Diesel engines and generators are the main culprits for poor air quality in cities, particularly their emissions of Nitrogen Dioxide (NOX) and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5). Off-highway vehicles and machinery, which is currently predominately diesel powered, is a key part of the problem. According to the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, construction sites are responsible for approximately 7.5% of damaging nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, 8% of large particle emissions (PM10) and 14.5% of emissions of the most dangerous fine particles (PM2.5). While a small amount of this (about 1%) is dust from site activities like demolition, the vast majority comes from the thousands of diesel diggers, generators and other machines operating on sites. This pollution isn’t just bad for the public, but for workers too – construction workers are considered to be one of the most vulnerable groups to the negative impacts of air pollution. In a recent study, construction workers were found to be exposed to six times’ the level of dangerous air pollution than office workers.

Quieter machinery will play an important role in jump starting construction sites and increasing productivity across Europe. Excessive noise levels are hazardous to site workers and disturb the surrounding population and local wildlife. Further, regional legislation restricts working hours to limit this noise pollution and noise complaints can lead to costly delays, potentially jeopardising project timelines. In the UK, construction work, particularly the use of noisy machinery such as excavators and generators, is restricted to the following hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturdays 8am to 1pm. This is often disruptive for building projects and is a key factor when planning construction timelines.

Eliminating the need for an ‘engine’, electrified equipment drastically reduces noise levels on site. Electrified equipment can be easily used inside buildings, inner-city work sites and other noise sensitive areas. With electrified equipment considerably quieter than traditional equipment, the number of hours of the day where machinery can be used can be extended. This improves the efficiency and productivity of construction sites and avoids costly delays.

“Today, in most cities across Europe there are limits on what time of day you can work on construction sites. The more you electrify the equipment, the more you can work around the clock”


Industry leaders

JCB is a market leader in electrified excavators and its fully electric 19C-IE offers very low operator noise levels. The external noise, is up to a massive five times quieter than its traditional diesel-powered counterpart, meaning that there are no restrictions in hours of operation, increasing the productivity of construction sites.

3.0 Part II – Electric Future

The industry experts interviewed for this report unanimously identified a trend towards the electrification of construction equipment in all European markets over the next decade. A perfect storm of expanding low emissions zones, tightening air pollution legislation, increased environmental awareness, net zero climate targets, and the business benefits of using electric machinery are combining to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuel-powered equipment. This trend is encapsulated by four themes; speed, safety, simplicity and sustainability.

Responding to this market demand for electrification will be a priority for OEMs. This will in turn improve the availability, variety and quality of electric equipment over the next decade. Developments in battery technology in recent years has seen the affordability battery powered solutions improve significantly across all sectors, from energy storage to electric vehicles.

“Responding quickly and promptly to a market which is changing so rapidly has become more crucial than ever before. Innovations and customer-tailored machines are trending. To fulfil that demand, investment in the development of clean equipment must continue”

Ronald Vlaar, Senior Sales Manager at Asjes B.V.

Electrified machinery has already been developed by a number of leading vehicle manufacturers including JCB, Doosan Bobcat and Volvo. Even so, demand is outstripping supply. In Norway for example, construction companies have turned to converting fossil-fuel driven machinery to comply with tightening legislation.

“In Norway, retrofitting construction equipment so that it meets the stricter emissions legislation has been the most practical solution for construction managers. However, this can be costly and is not an effective long-term solution. The development of new electric equipment will need to be ramped up rapidly in the coming years to help meet the growing demand.”


3.1 Speed

Demand for construction is high in much of Europe. Construction equipment sales in Europe hit their highest level for a decade in 2018 and in 2019, the industry experienced similarly strong market growth of 3.4%. Increasing urbanisation and population growth is driving demand for more affordable housing and critical infrastructure, including roads and other transport links. This, coupled with the need to make up for delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, means that the industry will need to ramp up productivity to meet deadlines or face difficult financial consequences. In order to achieve this, modern, innovative approaches to building must be embraced.

‘‘In the past, the construction industry has been somewhat reluctant to make use of the latest innovations. But this is changing rapidly as the industry is starting to realise the benefits of embracing innovation. Times of crisis can often help focus the minds and lead to rapid change – recovery from COVID-19, could accelerate the adoption of technology to help speed up construction processes.’


An Electric Decade in Construction16 How can construction bounce back for the better post COVID-19 17

While improving the long-term efficiency and productivity of buildings can achieve the most significant emissions reductions, minimising on site emissions during the construction phase of projects by using the latest low carbon technology is an area receiving a lot of attention. Adopting this technology is a quick win for reducing emissions on site. Driven by tightening emissions legislation and public pressure, zero emission electric equipment is set to boom in the next decade. 87% of workers in the construction industry surveyed, agreed that demand for electrified construction equipment will increase over the next decade.

“We’re not only seeing a rapid increase in demand for cleaner construction from government through legislation, but customers themselves are pushing for cleaner practices”


Europe is at the forefront of the transition to a low carbon economy, with some of the most ambitious climate targets in the world in northern and western Europe. In many ways, Europe will lead the way in decarbonising the construction industry with the rest of the world set to follow its lead.

“Scandinavia and Western Europe has already committed to ambitious emissions targets and are leading the demand for electric powered equipment.”


3.3 Sustainability

The climate crisis has put sustainability at the top of the agenda. Most European countries have enshrined net zero emissions targets in law. The next 10 years will be the most crucial decade for decarbonisation and because building and construction is responsible for around 39% of global emissions, it will have a central role to play in decarbonising the global economy.

“Urbanisation and population density are both increasing significantly. Meeting the growing demands this causes in a way that supports climate change targets is a key challenge for the industry in the next decade – but an area that the construction industry can contribute a lot to”.


Adding to the challenge is the fact that construction is forecast to increase in demand over the next ten years. In order to achieve this while also meeting emissions targets, the industry will need to rapidly embrace the latest low emission technologies, including electrifying much of its operations.

“The construction industry is facing legislative challenges from two sides; climate targets and air pollution limits. Construction managers are seeking innovative ways to navigate the changing landscape”


The construction industry’s scope for reducing emissions is far reaching, from embedded emissions in materials from production and procurement, to direct emissions from construction sites, to the lifetime impact of infrastructure after being built.

Rising air pollution has led to many authorities across Europe to take action by introducing clean air zones and tighter air pollution standards. This has presented a significant challenge for the construction industry – how can it adapt to tightening legislation while still delivering on time and within budget? Our research indicates the answer is emphatically electrification. Not only does electric equipment have zero tailpipe emissions, it also helps construction managers comply with current legislation and future proof themselves ahead of further tightening regulations in years to come. Additional benefits including significantly reduced fuel and maintenance costs make electrification an easy choice. Fuel cost benefits of switching to electric will also be amplified by further restrictions on diesel fuel expected in markets across Europe. In the UK for example, red diesel tax benefits will be removed for construction machinery in April 2022, meaning construction machinery operators will have to pay an extra £0.47 on every litre of diesel consumed. The industry expects this to be a significant challenge and is driving the transition away from diesel.

“In 10 years, it will be rare to see diesel machinery and equipment on construction sites in Denmark.”

Gunde Odgaard, Head Secretariat at BAT Kartellet.

As clean air zones continue to become more widespread across Europe, the transition towards clean electric equipment and away from diesel powered equipment will be accelerated.

EU Stage V Engine Regs

• As of 1 January 2019, all new agricultural, construction and building material machinery, industrial trucks, cranes and inland waterway vessels have had to comply with new emissions standards: Euro-Stage V.

• For the first time, all engines (petrol, diesel, gas, etc.) with a power range of 0 kW to higher than 560 kW for use in Non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) are included in the EU Directive.

• In order to further reduce the levels of particulate matter (PM), the maximum particle number for engines between 19 kW and 560 kW is limited to 1x1012 #/kWh.

3.2.2 Noise Pollution

The construction industry is a high-risk industry for noise related ill health. Around 50% of all construction workers have been exposed to hazardous noise and approximately 14% of all workers have hearing difficulty. Many construction processes are noisy and directly harm workers long-term hearing through prolonged exposure to dangerous volume of sound. Workers that have suffered hearing losses, coupled with noisy site conditions, can make it difficult for workers to hear warning signals, increasing the chance of accidents and injuries happening on site. As a result, reducing noise pollution on site is a key safety challenge for the industry.

One of the most significant and often overlooked benefits of electric construction machines is the reduction in dangerous noise pollution. Electric alternatives have substantially lower noise and vibrations levels compared with diesel counterparts, while also leading to improved comfort and safety for operators and others on site. This is an important benefit for site managers looking to sure up site safety and seen as an attractive option to improve worker safety going forward.

“Demand for quieter equipment is rising to meet stricter noise requirements and safety regulations as towns and cities become more densely populated.”


3.4 Simplicity

The construction industry is largely financially driven. Time and money are often tight and construction managers focus on the most economical, effective and simple solutions.

The most important challenge for the industry in the next decade is how to decarbonise while keeping costs down without compromising on quality. Electric equipment is leading the way as the most simple and cost-effective method for the industry to decarbonise. Electric equipment has lower fuel and maintenance costs, removes the requirement for costly exhaust extraction equipment when operating indoors, meets tightening emissions legislation, and negates the need for continuous and costly engine upgrades to meet legislation.

“Cost is always an important factor. Broadly speaking, powering a construction site via electricity costs around 25% less than using a diesel generator, and for big projects that require a lot of time on site, this can make a big difference.”


In recent years, the direction of travel for the construction industry has been towards electrification and it will continue to be the technology of choice for the industry. The transition will be made easier by battery developments in the automotive industry, where the European electric vehicle market is set to boom in the coming years. The IEA predicts that by 2030 almost half of all car sales in Europe could be electric. Developments in battery technology for electric vehicles is rapidly driving down battery costs and improving performance. This will further amplify the cost benefit of electric equipment into the future.

“As batteries continue to improve in cars, construction equipment will simultaneously follow and benefit alongside. Electric is currently the quickest, easiest and most economical way to improve energy efficiency of machinery and will be so for years to come. Most construction machinery applications suit electric drivetrains, so the transition is – in an engineering point of view – straightforward.”

Stefan Schneider, Co-Managing Director at Suncar HK AG.

The performance benefits and ease of using and applying electric equipment on site compared to diesel are also driving the industry towards electrification. For construction managers, investing in electric now ensures that machinery is future proofed and will meet stricter engine and emissions legislation without the need for costly upgrades. It also means that they can avoid potentially hefty fines for noise pollution and health and safety issues, ensuring projects are delivered on time and on budget. The electric components used in machines are more efficient, and contain fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines, aiding the reduction in maintenance costs. These factors make electric an attractive choice for the industry going forward.

“Having diesel on site is annoying – it creates health and safety issues, environmental issues, extra work, spills reduce productivity. Having a simple plug and play solution, to deliver electrical power, helps solve these issues and will increase demand for these solutions going forward.”



Electric machinery also protects against volatile fuel costs. Spikes in fuel prices can undermine careful construction budget planning. Fully electric equipment isn’t affected by fuel price volatility in the same way as traditional diesel equipment, which is seen as an important benefit for construction planners.

“Keeping on top of tight budgets is a priority for any project manager and volatility in fuel prices can be a costly problem. The ability to accurately and consistently predict fuel costs is a huge benefit of electrified equipment for construction managers.”


For a smooth transition to electric equipment, awareness of the benefits of making the switch need to be made clear to all decision makers in the industry. Switching to electric equipment doesn’t need to be disruptive to construction sites. Following the daily working routine, Doosan Bobcat’s fully electric excavator, the E10e, can operate throughout a full working day. Using an external supercharger, the battery can be recharged to 80% of battery capacity in less than 2 hours – during working breaks. The battery can also be recharged overnight by using the on-board charger from a standard 230V grid, ensuring it is ready for use for the day ahead. Awareness of the ease and benefits of switching to electric equipment will need to be increased for a swifter transition.

3.4.1 Adopting a ‘modern methods approach’

The shift to modern techniques where a standardised approach of producing components off site in a factory setting to standard sizes will become increasingly common in the sector, especially in the UK. This will increase the demand for more skilled construction workers in the sector and support quality job creation.

“There will be an uptick in demand for skilled workers in the industry to apply the modern approaches.”


As the industry moves towards more modern methods of construction (MMC), prefabrication and factory-based methods will become increasingly prevalent. Offsite manufacturing methods offer a range of benefits from improved efficiency, simplicity and shorter construction times with reduced costs and added environmental benefits.

“With a push toward modern methods of construction, the industry is moving from a build on site to a assemble on site mentality. There are fewer components, improving efficiency and construction times”


The transition to this approach will see construction hubs become more prevalent reducing the levels of embedded emissions from transport of materials. Construction hubs could also complement the deployment of electrified equipment. One of the main barriers to electrifying equipment is the need for powerful grid connections to charge the machinery rapidly. However, with the move towards more construction hubs, grid connections can be considered at an earlier stage in project planning. Construction hubs could therefore effectively be used as charging hubs, where machinery can be topped up in one place, ready for deployment.

Hyperdrive InnovationFuture Technology Centre, Barmston Court,

Nissan Way, Sunderland SR5 3NY, United Kingdom

To find out more about the benefits of electrification, get in touch.

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 (0)191 640 4586

Visit our website: www.hyperdriveinnovation.com

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