The modern design of the Volvo L120 Electric wheeled loader has helped Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) secure a prestigious Red Dot award.
The quality and design of the L120 Electric wheeled loader won over an international judging panel to scoop a coveted Red Dot Product Design award at the annual ceremony in Essen, Germany, this week. The Red Dot is one of the world’s largest and most respected design competitions, recognising outstanding achievements in product and industrial design.
The machine’s modern look was the result of a year of bold thinking by technology and design teams from Jinan in China, and Eskilstuna and Gothenburg in Sweden. This award achievement is therefore a testament to the power of global collaboration.
Peter Reuterberg, Senior Chief Advanced Designer for Volvo CE, said: “I’m happy we won this award, but I’m especially happy that we won it for this machine. The change from diesel to electric gave us the opportunity to think differently and strive for big impact. Our hope is that this new silhouette will be instantly recognisable as electric.”
The streamlined frame of the electric loader is made possible because of the removal of a combustion engine. The result is a transformation from a boxy’ rear end common to diesel machines into a sleeker shape for the new era of electric.
If designers replaced the combustion engine with larger batteries, this would have not only created a ‘bulkier’ shape but would have also reduced visibility from the cab. As wheeled loaders are designed to be driven both forwards and backwards in equal measure, all-around visibility is crucial to their safe and efficient operation.
Instead, engineers and designers worked together on a more thoughtful solution and agreed to integrate the batteries into the counterweight of the machine. The heavy weight of a battery is often seen as a problem in electric machine design, but in this case, the battery is being used to replace a concrete counterweight required for wheeled loaders.
The result is a machine that not only looks great, but provides enhanced visibility, safety and sustainability compared to traditional diesel variants.
Annie Gao, Product Platform Engineer at the Jinan Technology Centre, Volvo CE China, said: “When we debuted the machine, it marked a significant breakthrough, truly capturing the spirit of an electric vehicle. It is our relentless pursuit of innovation, close attention to detail, and commitment to quality that made this possible.”
