World's first fully electric deconstruction site now exists thanks to Volvo
Published on Sep 16, 2025 at 8:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Sep 17, 2025 at 12:37 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The world’s first fully electric deconstruction exists thanks to Volvo.
A fleet of construction machines from Volvo Construction Equipment and Volvo Trucks has been undertaking demolition work in Erlangen, Germany.
The Swedish manufacturer has touted this as a world first – the world’s first all-electric deconstruction site.
Turns out there are quite a few benefits to an all-electric demolition crew.
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Volvo brings us the world’s fully electric deconstruction
The German technology giant Siemens has been spending $591 million to redevelop its Erlangen research center since 2013.
The end goal is to turn it into the Siemens Technology Campus.
The goal along the way has been to do it with zero emissions and to adhere to high sustainability standards.
Part of this has come down to the choice of vehicles used in the deconstruction process – they’re all electric.
Beyond being better for the environment, there are other factors at play.
One being that the electric machines make less noise, which is beneficial for nearby offices that have remained in use throughout the process.
There’s also no need for air filtration systems now.
And get this – it’s actually made demolition tasks faster.
Even the plug-in charging process has won acclaim from the team.
“Our transformation is no longer a vision, but a reality,” head of Central Europe at Volvo CE Therese Schmitz-Hillebrecht said.
And as if that wasn’t enough, the construction waste saw a highly impressive recycling rate of 96 percent.
That meant it was recycled into raw materials for future use.
“This groundbreaking electric deconstruction project boasts an impressive 96% recycling rate and is a testament to our commitment to achieving excellence in sustainability,” said Christian Franz, head of sustainability at Siemens Real Estate.
“This project illustrates how partnerships and determination can create a lasting impact and help shape a more sustainable real estate industry.”
The rise of electric vehicles across the board
We’ve been talking about electric vehicles a lot over the past few years.
Most of the time, though, the context is about personal use of EVs.
Whether it’s this stunning Rolls-Royce Corniche or this Porsche Cayenne Coupe, there’s a lot of electric out there to love.
It’s great that there’s so much choice out there, in addition to the fact that it’s better for the environment.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
