With the EC260 Hybrid, EC300 Hybrid, EC370 Hybrid, EC400 Hybrid, and EC500 Hybrid, Volvo Construction Equipment is incorporating hydraulic hybrid technology into its most recent series of excavators. Volvo CE believes these 26- to 50-ton crawler excavators are the future of excavator design. The EC400 and EC500 Hybrid are Volvo CE's largest hybrid versions.

Volvo CE says these new vehicles have 20% greater fuel efficiency and 15% lower carbon dioxide emissions than the previous line without compromising performance.

“Our hybrid excavators are designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance,” states Sejong Ko, product manager for large excavators at Volvo CE. “These excavators lower a fleet’s emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient choice, especially for work in urban areas.”

Volvo CE claims that its hybrid excavators have a competitive advantage due to its hydraulic hybrid technology. It operates by capturing "free" energy from the excavator's boom's downward motion. The boom-down action charges the accumulator, which subsequently drives the assist motor as needed, operating the engine system.

The new excavators were launched in May of 2024 and are already paying dividends, due in part to higher power and efficiency, a better operator environment, and an enhanced human-machine interaction, the business says.

Technology in harmony with power

The idle frame, track links, and bottom rollers are all strengthened, making for a sturdy and long-lasting undercarriage. Solidified bucket linkage with steel strip, robust tower substructure, and easy-to-replace bolt-on wear plates let operators to tackle demanding work, according to the business.

Digital services such as Volvo Active Control and Dig Assist with On-Board Weighing are available to operators. According to Volvo CE, this will allow operators to increase efficiency and performance.