Grapes are sensitive – and when you’re depending on them to have a certain flavor, a certain acidity, and even a certain smell, the last thing you want is diesel particulate matter settling on them. That’s just one of the reasons electric equipment options like Volvo’s electric wheel loader offer unique advantages to companies like Ästad Vingård.
Located in Sweden’s beautiful Åkulla beech forest nature reserve, Ästad Vingård is one of Sweden’s largest commercial vineyards, growing organic Solaris grapes and producing its own award-winning wines. The vineyard also hosts tours ending at their own, onsite, Michelin-star Restaurang ÄNG.
As you can imagine, they’re very particular about the way everything feels, smells, and tastes – but the sound, too, is part of the experience Ästad wants to create. That was the sort of thinking that went into Ästad’s decision to deploy one of the new Volvo L25 Electric compact wheel loaders late last summer.
“We’re super satisfied (with the Volvo),” explaines Henrik Carlsson, Head of Projects and Operations at Ästad Vingård. “It’s exactly what we hoped for – versatile and able to work a full day!”
The Volvo L25 Electric packs a pair of electric motors. One to drive the loader and the other to power the hydraulic systems. Together, they give the L25 wheel loader a lifting capacity more than 12,300 lb. Volvo says the 40 kWh battery and 48V electrical system are good for up to eight hours of continuous operation.
This electric compact loader supports the vineyard with everything from landscaping and waste transport to snow removal – all without disturbing the vineyard’s guests with noise or diesel smells. All that’s left for them to do is enjoy the experience.
Electrek’s Take
As the electric agricultural equipment market evolves, the winners will be the manufacturers who deliver bulletproof, seamless operation from a dealer and support network that’s just as bulletproof and seamless. The organic and hobby farm market (which I’d include vineyards in) is ready for electrification – it’s just a matter of which brand will deliver the most capable, flexible machines to market first.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo CE, via LinkedIn.