Research project · D-A-CH Transport Infrastructure Research 2024
Electrification of Large Road Construction Sites
VoltaVia investigates how the electrification of large road construction sites can be implemented technically and organisationally on the basis of renewable energy sources, which requirements this creates for tendering and procurement, and which effects on construction processes, economic viability and the industry are to be expected.
Project completed – results will be published after approval
01What it is about
What are we investigating?
Three fields that belong together: the machines, their on-site energy supply and the procurement that brings both into practice.
Construction machinery & site vehicles
Which road construction machines – from transport vehicles to asphalt pavers, rollers and auxiliary equipment – are available in electric versions today, and where are the limits?
Energy supply
How can power and energy be provided on site – via grid connection, mobile storage or renewable sources – and how does charging fit into the construction workflow?
Tendering & procurement
How can public clients evaluate lower-emission construction methods in a technology-neutral way and create incentives for electrification today?
How do the three fields interlock?
VoltaVia treats construction machinery, energy supply and procurement as one interconnected system. The technical supply chain runs from the energy source through generation, storage and charging to the machine. Tendering and procurement provide the framework for deliberately considering and incentivising suitable machinery and supply concepts.
02Target groups
What does this mean for practice?
The results address three key groups of actors who jointly bring electrification into practice: public clients, construction companies and construction machinery manufacturers.
VoltaVia shows how lower-emission machinery and supply concepts can be considered in tendering and procurement in a technology-neutral way, and how suitable incentives for their use can be set.
- How can lower-emission machinery and supply concepts be considered in tendering and procurement in a technology-neutral way?
- Which requirements, evaluation criteria and evidence need to be defined as early as tender preparation?
- How can suitable incentives be set without unnecessarily restricting competition?
VoltaVia shows which electrified machines are available today and how energy supply, charging and logistics can be integrated into existing construction processes.
- Which construction machines and vehicles are already available in electrified form today, and for which applications are they suitable?
- How can the required energy be provided on site and charging be integrated into the construction process?
- What effects does electrification have on logistics, construction workflow and productivity?
VoltaVia shows in which machine classes electrified solutions are already available, where development is still needed and which requirements arise from use in road construction.
- For which machine classes are electrified solutions already available, and where are there still gaps?
- Which performance, application and operating-time requirements does road construction place on electrified machines?
- How can tendering and procurement help create reliable demand for lower-emission technologies?
03Partners
Who is behind it?
Practice, science and coordination in one joint project team – funded by three ministries within the D-A-CH cooperation and managed by the FFG.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
D-A-CH Cooperation Transport Infrastructure Research 2024
A project funded under the D-A-CH Cooperation Transport Infrastructure Research 2024 by the German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV), the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) and the Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA). Programme management: Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).
04Timeline
Where does the project stand?
The project is complete and the final report has been submitted – results will be published here after approval.
05Latest from the project
News
- 08/2026Final report submittedThe final report has been submitted to the programme management. It will be published here after approval.
- 08/2024Project startVoltaVia starts under the D‑A‑CH Cooperation Transport Infrastructure Research 2024 with Zeppelin Rental, PEM at RWTH Aachen University and HX Mobility.
Contact
Interested in the results?
The final report has been submitted and will be published here once approved by the programme management. If you are preparing a tender, planning to electrify a construction project or would like to position your machines as a manufacturer, feel free to get in touch now.