Electric cars are no longer a rarity on the roads. But on Swiss construction sites, electrically powered excavators or trucks are still a rarity. Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) has launched a research project to promote the electrification of construction sites. The aim is to create a platform for exchange between various stakeholders. The aim is also to reduce CO2 emissions and noise by switching to e-construction sites.
Where there’s planing, there’s chipping. On Swiss construction sites, this means that the operation of construction machinery and transport vehicles generates large quantities of greenhouse gases as well as other pollutant and noise emissions. Electric motors could provide a remedy here. Over the next two years, a research project at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts will therefore be investigating how electrification can be promoted on urban construction sites.
"We see great potential to make this industry more sustainable," says project manager Karina von dem Berge. As a preliminary study has shown, there is great interest among construction companies and cities. "Cities in particular, as clients of large construction projects, are very interested in reducing emissions on construction sites in order to get closer to their goal of climate neutrality."
This is because greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced in order to achieve Switzerland’s climate target by 2050. The building sector accounts for 25 percent of this. It is estimated that construction machinery and transport vehicles account for two percent over the lifetime of a building. "That doesn’t sound like much. But in total, it is considerable," explains Karina von dem Berge.
Pilot e-construction sites in Lucerne, Basel and Zurich
Over the next two years, three pilot e-construction sites in Lucerne, Basel and Zurich will show just how great the potential for CO2 savings and noise reduction on construction sites actually is. "We are pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm and openness with which many stakeholders are approaching the idea of e-construction sites," says von dem Berge. "This attitude is crucial for driving forward the transformation in such a traditional industry."
On the pilot construction sites, the three cities are trying out what can already be implemented in Switzerland. The data collected there can be compared with conventional reference construction sites where diesel-powered machines and vehicles are used. At the same time, the researchers also want to investigate how smoothly electric machines and vehicles can be integrated into everyday working life. This is because work processes need to be reorganized in order to coordinate charging times and provide a suitable infrastructure.
Online platform to provide support
Many different stakeholders are involved in the project to ensure that the transformation from conventional construction sites to e-construction sites succeeds (see box). "This broad support is crucial for success. Everyone needs to work together to remove as many hurdles as possible," says Karina von dem Berge. To achieve this goal, the researchers are developing a neutral online platform that will serve as a hub for the various interest groups in the construction industry. Construction companies can use it to borrow e-machines and e-vehicles, for example. "This will also give small and medium-sized construction companies, which make up the majority of the industry at over 90 percent, access to large e-vehicles," says the project manager.
The online platform should also provide access to partnership-based financing models that help to cover the additional costs of purchasing electric construction machinery and transport vehicles. And it is intended to solve a "chicken and egg problem": public clients such as cities are reluctant to develop strategic roadmaps for the electrification of construction sites until they know how many electric vehicles the construction companies have. Construction companies, in turn, wait for signals from municipal clients before investing. With the platform, the researchers want to ensure that clients and construction companies can exchange their interests.
The two-year project is being supported by Innosuisse with around CHF 435,000.
