Electric Compactors: Real-World Insights from Yolo County's First Month

For construction equipment sales teams watching the electric equipment trend, Yolo County's experience with the new Volvo DD25 Electric compactor offers some practical takeaways.

Key Points from the Field

According to reporting by Harlee Hewitt for Construction Equipment, the DD25 Electric runs 3 to 4 hours daily in Yolo County, with a 6- to 8-hour battery life per charge. The team uses a standard Level 2 AC charger at their fleet facility, charging it only a few nights per week.

What's interesting for maintenance crews is that no engine means no fuel system filters or diesel exhaust fluid to deal with. They just have to maintain the usual hydraulic oil and grease points.

Image credit: Volvo DD25 Electric product page, Volvo Construction Equipment North America.

Three Things Sales Teams Should Note

While Yolo County and the new DD25 Electric are just one case and one product, it does contribute to a signal that the equipment industry is changing. For sales teams in the industry, here are some takeaways:

1. Charging Infrastructure: Most facilities already have what's needed. Yolo County is using existing Level 2 chargers, which shows that new buyers don't always need special charging setups.
2. Runtime Reality: The automatic shutdown when idle saves significant battery life compared to diesel machines that burn fuel while idling. This helps the machines hit their 6- to 8-hour runtime targets.
3. Maintenance Changes: The simpler maintenance routine (no engine filters or DEF) is catching the attention of fleet managers looking at total operating costs.
   
   

What Early Customers Are Asking About

The Yolo County team raised a good point about remote worksites — they're looking into mobile charging solutions for long-term projects away from their main facility. Sales teams should be ready to discuss mobile charging options for similar situations.

Tracking the Market Shift

Bottom line: Electric compactors aren't just coming — they're here and working in real fleets. Sales teams that understand the practical details of how they're being used will have better conversations with potential buyers.

For sales managers using Voze, this trend toward electric equipment is worth monitoring closely. Leading sales teams might consider tagging accounts based on:

• Current charging infrastructure
• Sustainability requirements in their project bids
• Distance from main facilities to job sites
• Current equipment maintenance costs

When sales reps capture these details in their notes, the whole team stays ahead of which accounts are ready for electric equipment conversations. Of course, this does represent an extra challenge on top of managing customer relationships and sales processes. This is where Voze can help—it's a simple but powerful platform for sales teams to stay on-track with notes, follow-ups, and insights.

If you want to learn how teams like yours are driving growth, schedule a quick chat with us.

Source: "California Fleet Among the First to Add Volvo Electric Compactor" by Harlee Hewitt, Construction Equipment, December 11, 2024.