When humming replaces rumbling.

An electric excavator rolls across the construction site – quietly, with exceptionally efficient performance and no exhaust fumes. Is this some kind of futuristic dream? Not exactly. WALO regularly tests electric construction machines under real conditions – with one such example in Lucerne. This pilot project yielded real insights and, with the research project’s final report, has gone on to show where the opportunities and challenges are to be found.

Contact

Ebikon, LU

Location

Lucerne, Station

Service

Road Construction & Civil Engineering

In brief

Pilot project: construction of bus stop kerb Y for rail replacement service at Lucerne railway station
Period: October to mid-November 2025
Partners: city of Lucerne, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Hochschule Luzern, HSLU), ecoforce GmbH, Innosuisse
Part of the “Electrification of urban construction sites” research project
Other pilot cities: Zurich and Basel
Machines deployed: over 15 types of machine, from the 16-tonne excavator to the hand tamper
CO₂ emissions reduction in Lucerne: around 3.5 tonnes avoided out of 4.3 tonnes
Completed by WALO Road Construction, Ebikon

Why we are doing these test projects

Learning under real conditions.

Electrical construction machines are still rarely used on Swiss construction sites. The technology is continuing to improve, but how does it fare in real-world scenarios? How do we organise its operational deployment – from the electricity supply to planning in the charging? These are questions that can only be answered by using the equipment in practice. When the city of Lucerne together with ecoforce approached WALO, the answer was clear: we’re in.

“We were very pleased to be part of this innovative pilot project, because it gave us the opportunity to help shape the construction industry of tomorrow and gain experience along the way”, reports Tobias Frick, Director of Logistics and Engineering. Not because electric machinery is already on a par with conventional equipment in terms of economic viability or performance, but because WALO wants to understand what it will take to achieve that in future. “First and foremost, the project was about testing electrified equipment under real conditions – with real requirements.”

WALO staff wearing safety helmets and high-visibility vests carrying out roadworks in front of the modern station building, with an excavator in operation.

The project

Bus stop kerb Y: a civil engineering first.

The new bus stop kerb Y was built right in front of Lucerne railway station for the rail replacement service. It was neither the first nor the biggest electrified construction site in Switzerland – but it did have the widest range of electric machines. On this front, it was a civil engineering first. In total, over 15 different types of machine were used: excavators and wheel loaders for the digging, rollers and wacker plates for compaction, dumpers for transport, plus milling machines, cutting tools and small machines. Some of these were taken from the WALO fleet, while others came from partners including Avesco, Gurtner and Robert Aebi.

This pilot project was part of the “Electrification of urban construction sites” research project by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts with funding from Innosuisse. The study was not limited to Lucerne, with Zurich and Basel taking part too. “We are actively researching the electrification of construction sites”, explains Klarina von dem Berge, Lecturer and Researcher at HSLU. “Projects like this are important to maintain Switzerland’s status as a world-leader in innovation."

WALO staff in orange protective clothing carrying out roadworks as part of the e-Baustelle pilot project in front of a modern office building.

On the construction site

Our experiences.

Operations went smoothly on the construction site and the machines worked. Charging points were available directly on the construction site and at nearby Inseli. The staff and materials were also transported in electric vehicles to the full extent possible. This necessitated precise planning, as well as flexibility on the part of the team.

Was the work quieter as a result? Not when using cutting discs or demolition hammers – the construction noise is the same. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable difference in the day-to-day work on the construction site: no engine noise when idling and significantly quieter when moving vehicles around. This made communication within the team significantly easier. On top of that, there were no exhaust fumes produced on site, which has health advantages for the workers.

Stefan Naef, Infrastructure Project Manager at the city of Lucerne, came away impressed too: “I checked in on the construction site every day and noted how work was getting along. It was a pleasure to see the headway being made on the project.” But a pilot project is also a question of being frank about the challenges. WALO played a key role on this front in particular: fostering understanding, rather than glossing over the difficulties.

What we have learnt

Lessons for the future.

The electrified construction site in Lucerne is more than just a pilot project – it’s a decisive step towards understanding what climate-friendly construction means in practice. In its climate and energy strategy, the city of Lucerne has set itself a clear goal: net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. “This pilot project is part of our preparations for the future,” says Stefan Naef.

The findings from the research project by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts confirm the potential: around 3.5 tonnes out of 4.3 tonnes of CO₂ emissions were successfully avoided in the Lucerne arm of the study. In all three cities that participated in the pilot project, around 90 per cent of the theoretically possible reduction was harnessed.

“We were pleasantly surprised how much can already be achieved with a reasonable amount of extra expense,” says Karina von dem Berge of HSLU. From the perspective of clients, the additional expense is primarily in the area of organisation: tenders must be drafted differently to factor in planning of the energy supply at an early stage. “It’s a steep learning curve. But from the second project onwards, the extra costs are already significantly lower.”

Our assessment

What companies need

The research findings show potential. But for a construction company, there is a different question to take into account: is the investment worth it – at present, under real market conditions?

“We gained valuable experience in Lucerne and are open to further projects,” says Tobias Frick, Director of Logistics and Engineering at WALO. “But we need to be realistic: larger pieces of electric machinery like excavators, rollers or pavers are currently very hard to find on the market. And, where they are available, they are still several times the price of comparable diesel machines.” In a market where contracts are awarded first and foremost based on price, it is hardly feasible to pass these additional costs on. On top of all this, some questions have yet to be answered: how will the resale value fare, given that there is virtually no market for used electric machines? What’s it going to be like arranging for servicing and spare parts? And how can the energy supply be ensured – especially on linear construction sites, such as roads or pipelines, where the location constantly changes?

Then there’s the question of taking a logical approach to fleet management: it must be possible to deploy the machines all over Switzerland. Equipment that would only be commercially viable on electrified construction sites reduces the capacity of the fleet as a whole – as well as tying up capital that might be sorely needed elsewhere.

WALO staff at work on an e-construction site, using electric construction equipment and a mobile power unit in front of a modern office building.

Conclusion

Open to future developments

Electrified construction on non-linear construction sites in urban areas is possible – all three pilot cities have already launched follow-up projects. WALO is open to testing new technologies, testing their practicality and thereby gaining knowledge for future construction projects. The pilot project in Lucerne shows that change doesn’t start with perfect solutions, but with the courage to try something new and the willingness to speak openly about experiences.

“It’s ultimately a question of change management”, reflects Marco Meier, Co-Founder of ecoforce. “It means bringing all stakeholders together around a table and having a shared idea and vision, so that everybody pulls in the same direction.” Having completed the project, he concludes: “At the beginning of the project, I wouldn’t even have dreamt that literally all the machines in use would really have been electrically powered. It’s been a real success.”

Sustainability at WALO

Your contact

Do you have questions about the project?

Got questions about the electrified construction site pilot project or sustainable construction at WALO? Sarah Zoldan, Sustainability Manager, would be happy to shed more light.

Sarah Zoldan

Sustainability Manager

+41 44 745 23 11

nachhaltigkeit@walo.ch