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The Future Of Green Energy in the Construction Industry

A greener and more sustainable future is something many of us are pushing towards. We find ourselves living in a world where the margins of profit are very low and the deliverable product becomes smaller. Focused on being the person with the best deal instead of worrying about how to replenish those resources as given us a society of consumers that consume because they can and for no other reason. Rather astonishing, don’t you think?

Construction accounts for about 11% and buildings accounts for around 28% of the world’s carbon emissions and it will only grow if nothing is done about it. Forget the cows, construction vehicles are a huge contributor to carbon emissions, both in material used to make the vehicles and the emissions from the vehicles. In this article we are going to take a look at what is currently happening in the construction vehicle space as well as the future of green energy in the construction industry.

The Future Of Green Construction Vehicles

Emissions standards are not the only issue surrounding the construction industry. People are pushing for change that lessens the overall environmental impact, including noise pollution. As a result, more and more manufacturers are investing in electric and hybrid vehicle development. Or at the very least, low emissions vehicles that can be used in city centres.

Excavators

Bobcat’s E10e zero tail swing (ZTS) 1-tonne electric mini-excavator, the Volvo 30-tonne class EC300E Hybrid excavator, and the Kubota mini excavator running on LPG gas are all prime examples of what is being offered on the market for better future. All are much lower on emissions, can do an entire day’s work with a full charge, and are much quieter than traditional combustion engine construction vehicles.

The Bobcat E10e is 71cm wide, making it ideal to fit in most lifts and doorways for easy access. Powered by a lithium-ion battery that does not require any maintenance and comes with a management system. Plus, with an optional 400V supercharger you can use the excavator for four hours on one charge.

Volvo CE introduced the 30-tonne class EC300E Hybrid excavator along with two entirely new vehicles: 25-tonne class EC250E Hybrid and 35-tonne class EC350E Hybrid. They offer 17% more fuel-efficient than their traditional counterparts. Each of them use the new hydraulic hybrid technology where the down-boom motion charges the hydraulic accumulator that then stores and delivers energy.

The Kubota mini excavator is not electric or hybrid but it does offer very low emissions. In a way achieving the much-needed low emissions and silent machines for cities. The model, KX019-4SI, is a 1.7-tonne machine using Kubota’s Stage V WG972 -L-E4 spark-ignition engine.

Dumpers

The Kubota KC70H-4e is an electric dumper powered by a 48V lithium-ion battery. The dumper can be fully charged in 3 hours and offers a whole day of work or alternatively can be charged up to 80% in 1.5 hours. The load capacity is 700kg and the vehicle weighs 590kg.

JCB has another vehicle in this category. The 1TE is powered by two 5kWh lithium-ion batteries that provide full operational use and can be charged with standard 110V and 230V cables. The maximum payload of 1,000kg and a maximum load over a height of 2,392mm.

These are some of the machines that are really early adopters of the push towards green energy in the construction industry. Though small, it is a start and can be the example many need to confidently invest in a greener future for construction.

Sustainability in Construction

There are really amazing developments happening in the steel and vehicle industry. In an effort to work for a greener future together fossil fuels are being reduced by the manufacturers of machinery and vehicles as well as the fuel that is going to be used. This subject has many areas to explore and discover how our living habits can change the future.

Stay tuned to learn more about biofuels and more.