Bachelor and Master Theses

Context and Motivation

Battery swapping is emerging as a promising solution to address several challenges in the electrification of road construction machinery and equipment, such as long charging times, limited operational flexibility, and high battery ownership costs. In road construction sites—where productivity depends on continuous operation and efficient coordination of multiple machines—battery swapping can significantly reduce downtime, increase equipment utilization, and enhance energy management across the site.

By enabling the rapid exchange of depleted batteries with fully charged ones, battery swapping supports fleet-based operations, allowing machines to operate continuously without being tied to long charging cycles or grid constraints. However, implementing such systems in construction environments introduces specific technical, logistical, and economic challenges. These include the need for standardized battery interfaces, on-site energy infrastructure, ownership models, and efficient coordination between equipment manufacturers, energy providers, and construction companies.

To ensure the long-term success of battery swapping in this context, innovative and context-specific business models are required—models that balance economic feasibility, operational reliability, and environmental sustainability while aligning with the dynamics of temporary and distributed construction sites.

Research Aim:
This research aims to map existing business models for battery swapping and to propose innovative models tailored to the context of road construction sites. The study seeks to identify the key stakeholders involved, analyze mechanisms of value creation, delivery, and capture, and develop a conceptual framework that facilitates the effective deployment and scaling of battery swapping systems within construction operations.

Research Question (RQ):
What are the most effective and sustainable business models for battery swapping in road construction sites, and how can these models be designed to address the technical, economic, and operational challenges associated with electrified construction machinery?

Research setting and research group 

Thesis work will be performed within a research project, Converg II (A solution for energy distribution in road construction & quarrying). You will be working with industrial partners in the project such as Volvo Construction Equipment and one of their customers. You can search the projects on MDU webpage for more information. This thesis work will be part of the research group DigiCircle (Digital and Circular Industrial Services). The group is currently leading research projects on battery circularity, digital and circular business models, digital servitization, and circular ecosystems with more than 10 industrial companies, public funded companies, municipalities, and industrial clusters. Your thesis work will be used as a knowledge development as part of the group and will be used in the relevant courses, projects or publications upon completion. 

Education in one of these areas (Industrial engineering and management, product development, innovation management, business management, product and process development, energy engineering and management) and familiar with circular economy, business models, Industry 4.0 or digital transformation.