During London Climate Action Week 2025, key stakeholders gathered at the Swedish Embassy in London to tackle the pressing issue of emissions from construction equipment. Hosted by Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), alongside the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, the event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and air quality advocates to drive forward the transition to zero-emission construction machinery. This meeting underscored the critical public health threat posed by air pollution, particularly in urban areas, and highlighted the urgent need for collaborative solutions to accelerate change.

Diesel-powered compact construction machines, commonly used in cities, were identified as substantial contributors to urban air pollution, often escaping regulations such as low-emission zones that target other vehicle types. London’s construction sector, for example, has recently surpassed road traffic as the dominant source of black carbon emissions. At the roundtable, Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, emphasized that clean air is a social justice issue. He highlighted recent local government action, including the introduction of the Non-Road Mobile Machinery Low Emission Zone and commitments requiring all construction equipment in London to be zero-emission by 2040. This regulatory momentum aims to safeguard public health by reducing harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), which diesel compact machines release at disproportionately high levels. Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE, founder of the Ella Roberta Foundation, reinforced the gravity of the issue, calling air pollution a public health emergency that demands meeting World Health Organization (WHO) standards and the establishment of enforceable rights to clean air.

Supporting these concerns, recent data reveal that around 5,000 diesel compact excavators in London emit amounts of NOx and PM pollutants equivalent to over 100,000 diesel cars, yet remain outside Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) restrictions. Globally, only 17 percent of cities meet WHO air quality guidelines, while pollution contributes to approximately 8.1 million premature deaths annually. Transitioning to electric-powered construction equipment offers a clear path to dramatically reducing these emissions. These electric machines generate zero tailpipe emissions, minimize noise and vibrations, and improve overall urban livability—a vital improvement for dense populations. However, the switch to electric machinery calls for expanded infrastructure for charging, increased renewable energy supply, stronger policy frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration.

One of the key successes highlighted during the roundtable was the nearly 12-week trial conducted earlier in 2025 by Volvo CE in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) and contractor FM Conway. This trial involved replacing diesel machines with three zero-emission electric equivalents. The project demonstrated tangible environmental benefits, removing nearly 8 kilograms of NOx and non-methane hydrocarbons from urban streets, equivalent to the emissions from a diesel car driving almost 39,000 miles. Notably, diesel compact machines lack the particulate filters required on larger vehicles, explaining their outsized pollution contribution despite their smaller numbers. Given that they constitute only about a third of construction equipment in Europe but account for over half of the sector’s NOx emissions, the trial’s success underlines significant opportunities for urban air quality improvements if zero-emission adoption is scaled up.

This pioneering approach to urban construction also featured innovative solutions for operational challenges. For example, a separate six-week TfL-led trial tested mobile charging vans supplied by the British startup Charge Fairy. These vans allowed electric construction vehicles to recharge on-site, avoiding downtime caused by trips back to fixed charging stations—boosting efficiency and demonstrating an important step toward practical, continuous electric machinery use in busy city environments. The trial focused on Redcliffe Gardens and was part of London’s wider commitment to become net-zero carbon by 2030, with enhanced pedestrian safety as a key benefit.

Volvo CE’s early innovations in electric construction machinery date back even further. In 2017, they unveiled the EX2 prototype, a fully electric compact excavator praised for zero emissions, greatly reduced noise, increased efficiency, and lower total cost of ownership compared to traditional diesel models. Since then, electrification efforts have steadily grown, including notable deployments such as the introduction of Volvo FE Electric skiploaders by London waste and recycling firm Powerday in 2024, which are forecasted to save over 30 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

The London Climate Action Week discussions concluded with a clear call for global cities to adopt similar strategies. Emphasizing the overlooked impact of diesel compact machines, the consensus was that integrating construction equipment into emission zone policies and public procurement standards can drive systemic change. Coordinated action across governments, manufacturers, contractors, and urban planners is crucial to unlock the full potential of zero-emission construction equipment, paving the way to healthier, greener urban environments worldwide.

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Source: Noah Wire Services