Stages worlds first electric equipment Lucia procession

Swedish contractor Peab will parade electric construction equipment through Stockholm on December 12 in what's billed as the world's first machinery-based Lucia procession, highlighting the city's zero-fossil procurement requirements.

On Friday, December 12, Stockholm residents will witness what may be the world’s first Lucia procession featuring electric construction equipment. Swedish contractor Peab is behind the unprecedented initiative, which aims to highlight the industry’s shift toward electrification.

“We want to demonstrate that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand. Electric machinery is critical for reducing emissions as we build for the future. Together with the City of Stockholm, we’re driving this development forward,” says Tobias Stenquist, site manager at Peab.

The procession will travel through streets in the southern part of the Swedish capital, crossing the Skanstull Bridge before heading down to the Slakthus district.

“Ten years ago, there were hardly any electric construction machines on the market. Today, the City of Stockholm has zero-fossil requirements as a baseline for all contract procurements,” says Anders Österberg, chair of Stockholm’s Exploitation Committee.

It’s this transition that Peab and the City of Stockholm jointly want to spotlight through the unconventional Lucia celebration.

The procession rolls out at 7 a.m. from Södermalm, featuring electric excavators, wheel loaders, and dump trucks. This year’s Lucia figure? That honor went to an electric wheel excavator—much to the disappointment of the dump truck.

The equipment will be illuminated with one kilometer of LED light strands comprising 50,000 individual lights, all powered by seven portable battery systems.

For those unable to attend in person, the City of Stockholm is already offering a preview of one of the festively decorated electric machines.