An electric avenue project in France

Electric road construction machines from the FAYAT Group have been used by VINCI as a trial.

February 7, 2024 Read time: 2 mins

The electric BOMAG compactor worked directly behind the electric Dynapac paver

French contractor VINCI Construction has used construction machines from the FAYAT Group to deliver a low-carbon roadworks project using 100% electric equipment. Both VINCI and Fayat believe this to be a world first for a roadworks site.

VINCI Construction subsidiary Emulithe carried out the project using 100% electric equipment, as part of the works to resurface Rue du Lieutenant-Petit-Le-Roy in Chevilly-Larue (Val-de-Marne). The project involved making the street one-way and building a cycle path.

Following two days of familiarisation and training, Emulithe’s teams used – as part a 100% electric, rechargeable and silent sprayer, paver and roller, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution compared with those produced by conventional worksite equipment. This was the first time that all-electric models of these three essential roadworks machines had been used on a single worksite.

THE BOX, from Secmair, is a sprayer designed with decarbonisation in mind. It boasts good range and insulation, usability and simple operation – all designed, engineered and manufactured in France.

The SD1800W e is the first mass-produced electric urban paver and is manufactured by Dynapac. Its 98kWh battery provides long range and fast recharging. Its low noise level, zero fine-particle emissions and zero smoke emissions make it ideal for urban use and mean it has a much lower carbon footprint.

The BOMAG BW 100 ADe-5 electric roller is rechargeable and equipped with sophisticated battery, motor and inverter technology. The manufacturer has integrated all these components to give the user a smooth and quiet driving experience, with performance matching those of conventional diesel models. Its silent operation and simple information display on the dashboard give drivers visibility and control, making the working day effective and stress-free.

The job provided a suitable opportunity to trial the performance of these new electric machines and see how their batteries would last during a working day. It also confirmed the significant reduction in CO2 emissions, with this low-carbon worksite saving 0.25 tonnes of CO2-eq/day compared with a worksite using conventional machines.

VINCI Construction has been working for a number of years on implementing measures and developing management tools1 aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. The use of electric-powered vehicles, light equipment, excavators and even lorries on worksites is growing.

VINCI Construction’s trial on a roadworks site of 100% electric versions of three key roadworks vehicles is a further step in its ongoing search for solutions to improve the energy and environmental performance of its operations, with the aim of gradually integrating low-carbon vehicles into its fleet.

Asphalt milling, paving & compaction

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Mecalac launches range of medium-sized zero-emission machines 

Mecalac says it is helping to revolutionise urban construction sites and paving the way for intelligent, clean and silent workplaces.

Climate change and the resulting need to reduce CO₂ emissions has become a major global challenge. In recent years, many construction equipment manufacturers have presented electrical products to limit CO₂ emissions.

However, Mecalac notes these alternatives only provide a partial answer, as the offer is currently mostly limited to small machines - such as 1.5-ton mini-excavators - that tend to only assist larger, diesel-powered machines.

Mecalac says that the need for medium-sized machines on urban construction sites is not yet met. With very limited autonomy (generally between 1.5-4 hours), they do not allow a full day of work on site between battery recharges. Companies and operators are used to combustion-powered machines, so the switch to electric vehicles is not seamless.

With these problems in mind, Mecalac has carried out a major R&D programme, which has led to the launch of its complete zero-emission eco-system for urban worksites. With the trio of complementary machines, all earthmoving operations (digging, loading, and transporting) can be carried out with emission-free machines.

Mecalac notes that the absence of medium-sized electric machines has been due to difficulties with optimising power management to ensure sufficient autonomy. To overcome this problem, Mecalac says it has made a technological breakthrough on the hydraulic distribution system, as well as on the energy management of auxiliary systems such as heating and air conditioning, to drastically reduce energy consumption without compromising autonomy and performance.

The style of driving that operators have adopted for decades behind the steering wheels of combustion-engined machines is, adds Mecalac, not always compatible with optimising battery performance.

For example, when the throttle pedal is pressed, all the power of an electric machine is instantaneous, unlike combustion-engined machines. Mecalac has therefore configured the human-machine interface so that it reacts in an optimal way to preserve autonomy and guarantee coherent behaviour.

M-Power is a mobile high-power supply solution. With its 300kWh storage capacity, it replaces traditional diesel generators by providing a battery charging solution anywhere. Mecalac says that its electric eco-system is a game-changer that enables a drastic reduction in CO₂ emissions on construction sites.

For example, three Mecalac zero-emission machines working together on the same urban worksite save an average of 64 tonnes of CO₂ that their combustion-engined equivalents would have emitted over a year.

Mecalac’s zero-emission offer is also a response to limiting noise pollution and now offers new capacities for working inside.