Washington, DC - September 19, 2024

The Sweden-U.S. Green Transition Initiative is thrilled to announce a significant milestone with the completion of one of the first construction projects in the United States using only electric equipment.

The project was spearheaded by Kempower Inc., supported by Swedish consortium members Atlas Copco Group, Husqvarna Construction, and Volvo Construction Equipment, along with local subcontractor EV Revolution. An electric vehicle (EV) charging station was installed at Kempower's new American headquarters in Durham, North Carolina, utilizing only electric construction equipment during the entire project.

Through strong collaboration across the value chain, this installation was completed with reduced climate impact, noise, and emissions. The project not only proved the feasibility of zero-exhaust emission job sites but also highlighted their potential for a positive impact with broader adoption in the United States. The equipment manufacturers provided on-site training and support and collected data that was used to document CO₂ reductions and gain valuable feedback from the contractor. This first use case provides a base of learnings that can be scaled for larger projects.

As validated by Swedish consultancy Sweco, the small-scale installation of six DC chargers saved 258 kg of CO2 over four weeks. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory projects that by 2030, there will be 33 million EVs on the road, requiring around 28 million charging ports to meet demand. This indicates significant potential CO2 savings from using electric construction equipment for their installation. When multiplied across the entire construction sector, the impact of electric equipment could be substantial.

"The success of this project showcases how leading companies across the value chain can support decarbonization," said Linda Andrén, Executive Director, Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative. "It underscores the importance of collaboration and the significant impact that scaling these efforts can have on reducing emissions."

"By working together with construction and rental companies, government officials, and industry associations, we can amplify the impact of our electrification initiatives and pave the way for a more sustainable future for all,” stated Ray Gallant, Vice President, Sustainability and Productivity at Volvo Construction Equipment, North America.

“The insights we can share from this US use case are valuable for stakeholders at all levels, from policymakers, construction industry clients to project owners and machine operators. When we team up with customers and leading companies in the industry, we can drive change together. And at Husqvarna Construction we’re committed to support the journey,” said Ryan Wesselschmidt, SVP Sales & Services and GM at Husqvarna Construction, North America.

"Atlas Copco was really excited to join this Swedish consortium project," said Wouter Vlamynck, GM and President of Atlas Copco Power Technique North America. "Together with the other participants, we were able to show that it is no longer about individual sustainable products, but together we are moving towards sustainable construction site solutions."

"Projects like this are critical in supporting global climate initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, which aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050," said Tomi Ristimäki, CEO of Kempower. "The successful implementation of electric construction equipment in Durham serves as a model for future projects worldwide, demonstrating that sustainable practices can lead to significant environmental benefits. Our commitment to these initiatives is unwavering, and we look forward to furthering our efforts in creating a greener future.”

This project's success highlights actionable steps toward reducing emissions in construction which should help lawmakers, municipal planners, and industry leaders to prioritize and adopt these proven technologies.

“By measuring and verifying CO2 in construction equipment we have added another piece of the puzzle to decarbonize the whole value chain - from planning and design to construction and completion” says Anna Kerr, Regional Director Sweco Architects.

Learn more about the project in this video.

KEY FACTS

• Building total EV charging solution with 6 DC charging satellites (single dispenser) for cars at Kempower´s headquarters in Durham, NC.

• Equipment used included ECR25 Electric Excavator, L25 Electric Wheel Loader, and off-board fast charger from Volvo, E-Air H185 VSD Electric Compressor and TEXP60 pneumatic breaker from Atlas Copco, as well as K1 PACE Electric Power Cutter, WT 15i Electric Water Tank, and LF 60i LAT Electric Compactor from Husqvarna.

FOR QUESTIONS AND MEDIA INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

Linda Andrén, Executive Director, Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative Linda.andren@gti-sweden.se

Christina Malmberg Hägerstrand, Media Relations Manager, Atlas Copco Group media@atlascopco.com

Henrik Sjöström, Head of External Communications, Husqvarna press@husqvarnagroup.com

Paul Flake, Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Public Relations, Volvo Group North America paul.flake@volvo.com

Miracle King-Wilson, Communications Manager North America, Kempower miracle.king-wilson@kempower.com

ABOUT THE SWEDEN-US GREEN TRANSITION INITIATIVE

The Green Transition Initiative (GTI) is a joint initiative between the Embassy of Sweden in Washington DC, Business Sweden, the Swedish Energy Agency, and Sweden’s innovation agency Vinnova. The objectives are to position Sweden as a key partner to the United States in its climate transition, connect Swedish and U.S. stakeholders within the green energy ecosystem, and to leverage opportunities in sectors such as electromobility, renewable energy, sustainable industry, and green buildings. By doing so, the initiative aims to contribute to reduced global emissions as well as increased bilateral R&D cooperation, trade, and investments between Sweden and the United States. www.gti-sweden.se

ABOUT ATLAS COPCO GROUP

Atlas Copco Group enables technology that transforms the future. We innovate to develop products, services and solutions that are key to our customers’ success. Our four business areas offer compressed air and vacuum solutions, energy solutions, dewatering and industrial pumps, industrial power tools and assembly and machine vision solutions. In 2023, the Group had revenues of BSEK 173, and at year end about 53 000 employees. For more information, visit: www.atlascopcogroup.com

ABOUT HUSQVARNA CONSTRUCTION

Husqvarna Construction, part of Husqvarna Group, is a leading manufacturer of innovative equipment and diamond tools within the light construction industry. Our portfolio includes machines, solutions, services and diamond tools made for professionals who work with hard materials like concrete and stone to shape urban environments of tomorrow. We sell and service our products worldwide in more than 100 countries. Find us at www.husqvarnaconstruction.com. Husqvarna is a registered trademark owned by Husqvarna AB (publ)

ABOUT VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is a leading international manufacturer of premium construction equipment, and with over 14,000 employees, it is one of the largest companies in the industry. Volvo CE offers a wide range of products and services in more than 140 countries through its global distribution network. Volvo CE is part of the Volvo Group. The Volvo Group drives prosperity through transport solutions, offering trucks, buses, construction equipment, power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing and services that increase our customers’ uptime and productivity. Founded in 1927, the Volvo Group is committed to shaping the future landscape of sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, employs 105,000 people and serves customers in more than 190 markets. In 2020, net sales amounted to about SEK 338.4 billion (EUR 33.3 billion). Volvo shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. www.volvoce.com

ABOUT KEMPOWER

We design and manufacture reliable and user-friendly DC fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles. Our vision is to create the world’s most desired EV charging solutions for everyone, everywhere. Our product development and production are based in Finland and in the U.S., with the majority of our materials and components sourced locally. We focus on all areas of e-mobility, from electric cars, trucks, and buses to machines and marine. Our modular and scalable charging system and world-class software are designed by EV drivers for EV drivers, enabling the best user experience for our customers around the world. Kempower is listed in the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland. www.kempower.com