April 2023 Vol. 78 No. 4
Editor's Log
Editor's Log: The Electric Buzz
Robert Carpenter | Editor-in-Chief
(UI) — I made it back alive from a week in Vegas and I still have pictures of construction equipment burned in my mind. The tri-annual ConExpo/Con-Agg Show broke all its previous records, including attendance, with over 139,000 people registered.
ConExpo is the largest trade show in North America but it’s hard to believe that of the three worldwide, mega-construction/aggregate/concrete shows, it is in third place. Bauma, the German equivalent, holds the title of largest construction trade show with its 2022 event attracting almost 500,000 people. Intermat, the French version, expects to draw in excess of 170,000 people in 2024.
Fortunately, these shows are timed to stagger, so only one event is held every three years – which is fine with me. From an editor’s perspective, these large events crammed in too many people, too much information, and left too little time to process.
Overwhelming size aside, a tremendous amount of pent-up energy was expended at ConExpo. In March 2020, the show was forced to shut down early as the COVID pandemic swept across America. And attendance was down, since several exhibiting companies pulled their personnel right before the show began and thousands of registrants opted to skip the event. But that was all in the back of the mind this year, as people rolled through the massive area in record numbers.
For the equipment manufacturers, many were introducing new equipment, designs and innovations. Still, the buzz from manufacturers was literally electric. Both ready-for-market and concept equipment was introduced, as companies wanted to demonstrate their eco-friendly and sustainable products – in other words, electric powered machines.
While it was very interesting to learn about these revolutionary machines, serious drawbacks remain in the movement to electrify construction equipment. Product managers eschewed glowing, progressive and environmental details about their new or planned electric equipment.
However, for construction machines, like automobiles, the electric power option includes challenges that must be resolved before becoming widely accepted and adapted to everyday and widespread life.
For one thing, the application of electric power on construction job sites is much more complex than for cars. Construction equipment doesn’t merely drive down the highway. Rather, machines have varying levels of needs, power requirements and uses that cars will never experience.
Power consumption is another significant job-site issue. Depending upon who you talk to, the effective charge of an electric mini-excavator, skid loader or even a backhoe, is four to six hours. Some reported that it’s “conceivable” to squeeze eight hours of power out of a particular piece of equipment.
Rarely will construction machinery be working routinely near a major charging station. Returning machines to base for overnight charging, then returning to a job site the next morning is not really feasible – especially if the job site is not close to home, as often is the case.
Various charging options, such as solar power, are being explored. But none yet has the portability or capacity to fit the bill. Recharging time for commercial-grade, lithium ion battery packs is also an issue, even when some kind of charging capability is available nearby. Further, we’re not talking about larger electric equipment – mainly compact or smaller units.
Like automobiles, a clear path for economical recycling – or just getting rid of exhausted batteries – does not exist. Once their life cycle is complete, these batteries’ exotic minerals are dangerous to both people, as well as the environment.
To truly embrace an electric-powered machinery world, new, more powerful and storable battery technology is necessary. Indeed, concepts are already being explored, though it will take time before that technology can be developed and applied to real-world needs. In the meantime, science continues to investigate alternative power sources that most of us have never heard of.
Interestingly, Vanair seems to have the best handle on recharging. Of course, the company’s increasing product assortment of electric tools and air compressors is not for large construction equipment. Still, compressors and a variety of significant tools need sustained power.
Vanair created the ELiMENT lithium iron phosphate battery that matches well with the equipment. It is lightweight and easy to recharge. Also, two batteries can be linked together for additional power and Vanair will be offering a six-tandem option later in the year.
Other concepts were shown as well. Hyundai displayed a wheeled excavator that uses a hydrogen fuel cell for power. Apparently, it can provide the energy necessary for larger equipment. And talk about sustainable – the byproduct is clean water. But like so many concepts in the world of alternative fuels and clean energy, the cost is untenable.
Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to discuss electric benefits and limitations for construction machinery with many company experts. Privately, several admitted long-term answers to the challenges of full-scale conversion to electric powered machinery are elusive, and current hoopla is based upon “we’ll figure it out.”
That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that we’re creating an electric world today that won’t seriously impair our environment tomorrow.
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