Volvo CE ‘elephants to ants’ electric concept wins award

Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) is celebrating after winning Sweden’s quality innovation of the year award, with its concept HX1 autonomous, battery-electric, load carrier.

The concept HX1 is Volvo CE’s vision of a futuristic machine and one element of a present-day electric site research project that is predicted to cut carbon emissions by up to 95% and lower total cost of ownership costs by a quarter.

Rather than having a few, large, versatile machines (as is common on construction and mining sites today), the HX1 demonstrates the emergence of smaller and more numerous, specialist machines.

This ‘elephants to ants’ concept is a new way of meeting customer needs, combining intelligent machines, automation and electromobility.

“The HX1 forms part of Volvo CE’s long-term ambition of achieving sustainable transportation solutions,” says Patrik Lundblad, senior vice president of Volvo CE’s Technology function.

“This award is a tribute to the hard work and vision of Volvo CE’s employees, who continue to push the boundaries of technology and innovation,” says Lundblad.

Since 2011, the Quality Innovation Awards in Sweden recognised organisations that present not just innovative solutions, but those that have been created using a systematic approach to meet clearly identified customer needs.

“The concept HX1 features an entirely new and revolutionary approach to transportation systems, introducing a shift to smaller and autonomous electrified vehicles. The concept is groundbreaking in the industry and gives us a glimpse of how the future may look,” according to the award committee’s five judges.

The ceremony for the winners of the Swedish round of the Quality Innovation Award 2016 is taking place on January 30, 2017, at Moderna Museet in Stockholm.