Ammann’s fully electric eABG 4820 asphalt paver has been used to build a cycle path in Groningen, Volvo Penta said. The machine uses a Volvo Penta electric driveline and is rated to lay up to 551 US tons (500 tonnes) of asphalt per hour without producing exhaust emissions at the work site.

Ammann designed the paver for projects such as urban roadworks and cycle paths, where construction often takes place close to homes and businesses. The battery-powered machine reduces operating noise while aiming to match the surface quality of conventional asphalt pavers.

Asphalt contractor Albert Santing, who has 28 years of experience in the industry, said the quieter operation improved working conditions on the Groningen project. 

“We work 10 hours a day, and with this machine, we don’t go home with a pounding headache from the noise. You can hear everything around you,” he said.

The eABG 4820 can lay asphalt in strips up to 21 feet (6.5 meters wide). Ammann developed the machine in response to demand for quieter equipment that can work without direct exhaust emissions while maintaining the precision and steady movement needed for a consistent surface.

The electric motors deliver torque as soon as the operator moves the control stick. That gives the machine an immediate response to operator inputs, since it can begin moving without waiting for a combustion engine to build up speed.

“It doesn’t build up any RPMs, but when you move the stick, the machine obeys. It’s just like a giant sports car, only at a snail’s pace,” Santing said.

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