How electric construction machinery is paving the way for an emission-free future
Pilot construction sites are currently emerging throughout Switzerland, demonstrating how the construction process can be designed to be emission-free, quiet, and efficient in the future. Various cities, universities, authorities, and industry partners are working together to test electric construction machinery under real-world conditions and to make their potential visible.
Zurich: Insights into emission-free construction site operations
Our fully electric excavators were used at various construction sites in Zurich. The machines were developed with a focus on high battery capacity, fast charging capability, and intelligent networking. Their use enabled valuable experience in daily construction site operations and provided important impulses for the discussion surrounding emission-free construction – particularly in areas with strict noise and emission regulations.
Basel: Electromobility as a pilot project in civil engineering
A particularly ambitious project took place in Basel. A new underground recycling collection point was built on Hegenheimerstrasse, constructed entirely using electric construction machinery. The ZE150W 15-tonne wheeled excavator, developed by SUNCAR in cooperation with KTEG and supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), was used there for the first time.
The project was part of the SFOE’s pilot and demonstration program and examines the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and everyday suitability of large electric construction machinery. This includes, among other things, noise measurements, CO₂ balancing, and the optimization of drive systems. The city of Basel aims to operate all construction sites emission-free by 2037 – a clear signal for climate-friendly infrastructure projects.
Lucerne: One of Switzerland’s largest electric construction sites to date
The city of Lucerne is also testing the construction site of the future. Several fully electric machines are being used at a large pilot construction site, including the ZE150W 15-t wheeled excavator and the TB260E 6-t crawler excavator. During a guided tour, more than 50 representatives from administration, the construction industry, universities, and industry exchanged experiences and challenges.
Various electric machines could be seen in real use on-site – from electric pavers to wheeled excavators. Insights into runtimes, charging processes, and operational workflows clearly showed how quickly initial skepticism toward electrification fades and is replaced by enthusiasm. Feedback from Lucerne confirms: The emission-free construction site is no longer a vision, but a reality.
Digital networking as a success factor
An important building block of this development is the digital infrastructure. Via the “INSIGHT” telemetry platform, the machine data of many electric excavators is recorded online, visualized, and made accessible to service teams. Remote software updates are also possible – a step that not only makes operation more efficient but also paves the way for data-based optimizations.
A look abroad: Norway as a pioneer
While Switzerland is testing the entry into large-scale electric construction sites, Norway is already further ahead. In Oslo in particular, over a hundred electric construction machines – many of them co-developed by SUNCAR – are in daily use. Clear political guidelines have contributed decisively to rapidly advancing electrification there.
Conclusion: The change is in full swing
The pilot construction sites in Zurich, Basel, and Lucerne impressively show how research, the public sector, and industry are working together on the next generation of sustainable construction machinery. Electric excavators, wheel loaders, or pavers are increasingly being tested in everyday use – quiet, emission-free, and efficient.
The experiences from the pilot projects prove: The electrification of construction sites is no longer a distant future. It is happening today – and it is gaining momentum rapidly.