E-trucks pave way to sustainable industry

Boskalis Netherlands was one of the first in the construction industry to put two Volvo FH 4×2 Electric tractors into service last year. Both vehicles are doing their bit to achieve the company's goal of emission-free work, with 75,000 and 46,000 kilometers on the clock now, respectively. Four more electric Volvo FH 8×4 tippers will follow shortly. Fleet manager Sjaak Heemes explains how the transition from diesel to electric has gone so far and what role Volvo Trucks is playing on the road to a sustainable future.

Since April 2023, Boskalis has been operating the first battery-electric Volvo FH through Truck dealer BAS Truck Center. The electric trucks contribute to the targets for CO2, particulate matter and nitrogen reduction. "Within our own organization, this sustainability idea lives very strongly," Sjaak knows. "Moreover, clients are increasingly asking to carry out projects with zero-emission machines. We are therefore investing heavily in electric equipment as well as in charging infrastructure." 

Getting drivers excited

The fleet manager calls the choice of Volvo Trucks a logical one, as the Swedish manufacturer was the first to introduce a full range of electric trucks, including construction vehicles and trucks that can easily tow 50 tons. "We deliberately chose two FH 4×2 tractors for our operations. Another four electric 8×4 tippers are currently under construction at the Volvo dealership These will also be FH cabs, because they offer the most comfort - something that makes our drivers enthusiastic about switching from diesel to electric. Of course, it requires a slightly different mindset."

According to Heemes, it is all the more true of e-trucks that the driver makes the vehicle. Because of the aging population within this profession, it is not easy to enthuse all those diesel fanatics to switch to electric driving. "The first reaction is often reluctance, but after a few rides that skepticism gives way to elation," it sounds recognizable. "Especially the low noise level of the electric motors is appreciated. The range on a full battery pack is about 250 to 300 kilometers.", Volvo Connect provides the solution for planning the trips as efficiently as possible. Now that more and more Boskalis locations have their own (fast) chargers and the number of public charging stations for e-trucks is also increasing, both Volvo FH Electric run effortlessly in the planning."

Blowing along a tune

Boskalis uses the emission-free tractors primarily for transport tasks within the ground, road and hydraulic engineering sector. One combination mainly drives trips for Boskalis Environmental in Schiedam, which specializes in cleaning or processing soil, dredged sediment, soil ashes and other mineral waste materials. Over 75,000 kilometers have been driven in fourteen months. The electrically driven 4×2s blow quite a tune, and they are praised for their daily availability. The second FH Electric was delivered last September and every day it drives five loads with bottom ash from the washing plant at HVC in Alkmaar to Middenmeer. This e-truck has now covered 46,000 kilometers.

As an experienced contractor, it is commonplace for Boskalis Netherlands to be at the forefront of new developments. So too with electrification of the machinery and vehicle fleet. Initial experiences are all positive. "Now that it is increasingly possible to recharge in between jobs, the emission-free Volvo tractors can also be used more widely. In this way, the biggest drawback of the FH Electric is slowly fading into the background.   

In general, there is still a lot of resistance to e-trucks, but the transition to emission-free operations is a dire necessity and Boskalis is happy to take responsibility for sticking to this path. Operating without emissions is what we all want to achieve in the end," says Sjaak.   

Clear advisory role

For the greening of transport, Boskalis Nederland maintains a long-term relationship with Volvo Trucks Nederland and dealer BAS Truck Center. When putting together the axle configuration, it was advised to opt for a 4×2, rather than the usual 6×2, with careful consideration of the weight distribution between tractor and trailer. By making better use of the front axle of the FH Electric, an optimal distribution was created. Sjaak: "We have been driving Volvo trucks for years and are very satisfied with them. Not only are comfort and safety at the highest level, the brand also scores highly in terms of performance, fuel consumption and reliability. Using Volvo Connect, we closely monitor the consumption figures of both the diesel and electric trucks."

The Volvo tractors form a combination with two almost identical Tibeg tipper trailers of 28 cubic meters. The only difference is that one has an insulated body for asphalt transport and the other does not. The trailers are equipped with multi-tops and the first meter and a half of the floor is covered with stainless steel. The trailers are painted in Boskalis' yellow-gray house colors. The tailgate features a set of hydraulic slip hooks. Both the covers and the slip hooks are electrically powered via a separate powerpack. Notable - but not immediately visible - is the fact that removable support legs and aluminum Alcoa rims were chosen. This was done to increase the payload to around 30 tons. Boskalis Netherlands is taking a nice step towards sustainability with the two striking combinations.