In the latest step on its path toward carbon neutrality, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has become the first manufacturer to deliver a construction machine – a A30G articulated hauler – built using fossil-free steel to a customer.

The move, the company says, demonstrates the fast-tracking of innovation to real-world solutions as companies across the value chain come together to drive change.

The A30G articulated hauler built using fossil-free steel was handed over by President of Volvo CE, Melker Jernberg, to long-standing construction customer NCC on June 1, 2022, at a ceremony hosted by LeadIt – the Leadership Group for Industry Transition – in conjunction with the United Nations environmental meeting Stockholm +50.

The move comes just nine months after the company unveiled the world’s first vehicle concept using fossil-free steel, as part of the testing of the implementation in an ordinary production setup.

That machine, the latest concept unit produced of its TA15 battery electric, cabless and autonomous hauler for use in mining and quarrying, was unveiled at a green steel collaboration event on October 13, 2021, in Gothenburg, hosted by Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO Volvo Group.

While commercial introduction is expected to be gradual with selected customers, this first handover is an important milestone in the group’s ambition to drive industry transformation towards global climate goals, Volvo CE says. The A30G is produced at Volvo CE’s Braås facility in Sweden, using the existing manufacturing process, with fossil-free steel from Swedish steel company SSAB.

While the A30G is a 29 t payload articulated hauler more suited to the construction industry, the fossil-free move to bigger vehicles used in mining is also expected in the future.

Jernberg says: “We are sure that to succeed in decarbonising the construction industry, actors in the value chain will need to collaborate and act. Thanks to our strong partnerships with other driven and forward-thinking companies, we are now able to lead the change towards fossil-free construction and be the first to deliver a machine built using fossil-free steel to a customer. Turning commitments into actions is key to building the world we want to live in.”

Tomas Carlsson, CEO and President of NCC, says: “NCC has a firm commitment to contribute to sustainable development. We are working determinedly and systematically to reach that target, which includes selecting machines that live up to our high demands. As demonstrated in this great example, it takes strong and proactive partnerships between several players to make the sustainable shift possible.”

As part of its Science-Based Targets commitment, Volvo CE plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Alongside the electrification of its machines, the company recognises the importance of reducing its carbon footprint across its entire value chain. This includes the raw materials used in its products, of which steel is a major component. The production using fossil-free steel in Volvo CE’s machines and components will be gradual and depend on aspects such as steel availability.