Volvo CE A California developer is testing out Volvo Construction Equipment's electric excavator and wheel loader, examining whether their promise of environmental sustainability can hold up on off-the-grid jobsites. Baltic Sands, Yucca Valley, is using the Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator and L25 electric loader for a variety of tasks on remote site-development projects in Southern California. Baltic received a $2 million grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District that was designed to accelerate using zero-emission technologies for off-road equipment. The grant and the electric machines worked in tandem with Baltic's pursuit of developing environmentally responsible housing projects. The ECR25 shaped building pads, performed subgrade improvements and dug lines for utility and irrigation recovery systems. The L25 reshaped larger areas, contributed to the finish grading and relocated soil stockpiles for further processing.