Editor’s Note: This is Part One of an eight-part series on the evolution of construction equipment and the diesel fuel alternatives manufacturers are introducing, including hybrid machines, electric and battery-powered equipment, and hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Diesel will continue to play a part in heavy equipment operations for years to come, but plans are in motion to reduce its prevalence in favor of a variety of new fuels and technology that produce lower levels of carbon-dioxide emissions.
Governments around the world are calling for “net-zero” legislation that will substantially accelerate this trend. In some estimates, half if not more of the energy that propels your machines will be obtained with alternative fuels and electrified equipment by the middle of this century.
“We hope that by 2040 we'll be done producing most diesel machines, or at least well on the way,” says Ray Gallant, Volvo’s vice president of product management and productivity for the Americas. “We are interested in any source that can provide the necessary energy we need in a sustainable process.”
The challenge contractors and OEMs face is that there is no single type of fuel or propulsion technology that will replace diesel. “Each application has its own unique requirements, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to powertrain,” says Preston Moore, solution planner and product manager for electrified drivetrain and propulsion batteries at John Deere Power Systems.
“Some manufacturers emphasize electrification while others are pursuing alternative fuels and hybrid solutions,” Moore says. “In today's equipment industry, it's important to aggressively pursue these sustainable technologies while optimizing power sources, like diesel and natural gas, that have helped our world run for centuries.”
