Steffen Solstrand Ludvigsen (LNS, left) and Lars Oust (Hafslund Kraft) with one of the new A30 Electric articulated haulers.Image: VolvoIn a significant milestone, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has delivered four A30 Electric units to LNS (Leonhard Nilsen & Sønner AS), with three more construction vehicles set to follow in the coming month. The machines will be used by Hafslund Kraft for the construction of the Hemsil 3 hydropower plant in the Norwegian region of Hallingdal. The project, expected to be completed by 2029, will increase annual electricity generation by approximately 110GWh.The electric articulated haulers will manage transport tasks during the construction of a roughly 20km-long tunnel. According to the project partners, the operational profile is particularly well-suited to battery-electric machines. Regular blasting breaks provide sufficient time for recharging, while locally emission-free vehicles are especially effective in enclosed work environments such as tunnels. Image: Volvo Image: Volvo Image: Volvo Image: Volvo Image: VolvoAccording to Volvo CE, the A30 Electric is the world’s first series-produced battery-electric articulated hauler in its size classFor Volvo, this deployment marks the next step following the start of production. In April, the company began series production of the A30 Electric and the larger A40 Electric at its Swedish plant in Braås. Volvo claims to be the world’s first manufacturer to produce battery-electric articulated haulers of this size on a series scale. Initial customer deliveries were announced at the time for Norway and the UK, and the Hemsil 3 project now represents the first practical application.The A30 Electric has a payload capacity of 29 tonnes and is powered by a 265kW electric motor. The battery offers a capacity of 245kWh and is designed to enable operating times of four to four and a half hours, depending on the usage profile. The hauler can be recharged at up to 350kW.With the A30 Electric, Volvo CE continues to expand its range of electric construction machinery. While electric excavators and wheel loaders are now available in multiple performance classes, the electrification of heavy transport machines remains a challenge. Norway is a pioneer in this field, with public infrastructure projects increasingly relying on emission-free construction machinery – making the country a key testing ground for new electric heavy-duty technology.volvoce.com