From Trial To Reality: Electric Construction Equipment Proves Itself In Central London

For years, electric construction equipment has been talked about as the future of the industry. But in Westminster, London, that future is already here and delivering real results on live construction and utility projects.

Over the past year, FM Conway, Volvo Construction Equipment, SMT and Charge Fairy have been working together to show how electric excavators can successfully operate in one of the busiest urban environments in the world.

The project centred around replacing traditional diesel-powered compact excavators with Volvo electric machines, supported by Charge Fairy’s innovative mobile charging service. The result? A practical solution that proves electric equipment can work effectively in demanding, real-world applications.

The Challenge

As environmental regulations continue to tighten and local authorities push for cleaner air, contractors are under increasing pressure to reduce emissions and noise on-site.

For many businesses, electric machinery appears to be the obvious solution. However, one question continues to arise:

How do you keep electric machines working when sites constantly move and fixed charging infrastructure isn’t available?

Unlike larger construction projects where charging facilities can be installed, utility and highway contractors often work across multiple locations in a single week. Returning machines to a depot for charging isn’t always practical and can reduce productivity.

The challenge wasn’t simply replacing a diesel excavator with an electric one. The challenge was creating a working solution that contractors could use every day.

The Solution

To tackle the issue, Volvo’s electric compact excavators were paired with Charge Fairy’s mobile charging service.

Instead of bringing the machine to the charger, the charger comes to the machine.

Throughout the trial, FM Conway operated Volvo EC18 Electric and ECR25 Electric excavators across Westminster, carrying out routine highway and utility works. When additional power was required, Charge Fairy delivered energy directly to the machine on-site.

This approach removed many of the concerns surrounding charging logistics and allowed operators to focus on the job at hand rather than battery management.

For contractors, that’s a significant step forward in making electric equipment a practical option.

What Were the Results?

The project demonstrated that electric compact excavators are more than capable of handling many of the tasks traditionally completed by diesel machines.

Some of the key benefits included:

• Reduced local emissions
• Lower operating noise levels
• Improved operator comfort
• Reduced vibration
• Greater flexibility through mobile charging support
• Strong machine utilisation across multiple sites

One particularly impressive result was the utilisation rate of the Volvo EC18 Electric. Operating within the Charge Fairy support model, the machine became one of the most heavily utilised Volvo electric compact excavators anywhere in the world.

That sends a strong message to the wider industry: electric equipment can be productive as well as sustainable.

More Than Just the Machine

One of the biggest takeaways from the project is that successful electrification isn’t solely about the machine itself.

The technology is already here.

The real challenge is ensuring contractors have the support, infrastructure and flexibility required to keep machines working efficiently.

This project shows what can happen when manufacturers, dealers, contractors and service providers work together to solve real operational challenges rather than simply discussing them.

What Does This Mean for Contractors?

For many contractors, especially those operating in urban environments, electric machinery is becoming a genuine alternative to diesel equipment.

Lower noise levels make electric excavators ideal for residential areas, city centres, schools and hospitals. Reduced emissions help contractors meet environmental targets and comply with increasingly strict regulations.

Most importantly, projects like this prove that electric equipment doesn’t need to compromise productivity.

With the right support network in place, contractors can start reducing emissions today rather than waiting years for charging infrastructure to catch up.

Looking Ahead

At LC International, we’re seeing growing interest in electric construction equipment as customers explore ways to future-proof their fleets while maintaining productivity.

The Westminster project demonstrates that electric compact excavators are no longer an idea for tomorrow, they’re delivering results on live projects today.

As charging technology, battery performance and supporting infrastructure continue to evolve, we expect electric equipment to play an increasingly important role across construction, utilities and infrastructure projects throughout the UK.

The future of construction isn’t coming. In many cases, it’s already on-site and getting the job done.

As a Volvo Compact Partner, LC International are proud to support solutions such as the Charge Fairy partnership, helping customers explore practical approaches to electrification without compromising productivity. Projects like the Westminster trial provide valuable insight into how electric equipment can be successfully integrated into day-to-day operations.

Interested in exploring the Volvo Compact Electric range for your upcoming projects or want to discuss adding electric machinery to your fleet? Contact the Sales department today on 01634 867777 or [email protected].