From the use of “low carbon concrete” to the development of bricks made from recycled materials, the construction sector is undergoing a number of changes that could have a far-reaching impact in the years ahead.

While this shift has yet to take place at scale, it does point to a future where homes, offices and large infrastructure projects could be built using innovative technology, sustainable materials and low-emission equipment.

On Monday, the industry took another step toward this scenario when a multi-billion pound high-speed rail project in the U.K. said electric construction equipment had been trialed at one of its sites.

The HS2 project, which plans to reduce travel times between London and major cities such as Birmingham and Manchester, said the piece of kit, called a telehandler, had been used on a section of the development in the U.K. capital.

HS2 said that, across a period of one week, the telehandler was estimated to have saved more than 400 liters of fuel “compared to a traditional combustion telehandler.” A telehandler is used to lift objects and has a “boom” which can extend.

The Electric Telehandler 2.6t was produced by a firm called Faresin. Flannery, a plant-hire business, supplied the vehicle, which runs on a lithium battery and is said to produce zero carbon dioxide emissions.

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