The end justifies the means on the road to the 100% zero-emission construction site

'The market demands a unified solution on which the entire infrastructure can be built'

Despite - and partly because of - the corona crisis, the construction industry is in full swing. Much is going on in the equipment field as well. Climate goals for 2025 and 2030 are urging construction companies to invest in electrically powered machines. That's good news for the environment, but when it comes to safety, quality and CE directives, many converters aren't taking it very seriously. 

I am close enough to the fire (sometimes literally!) to know that there are cowboys in this world too. I have even come across electrical construction equipment from a fairground attraction manufacturer... I hold my heart because accidents are bound to happen. Fortunately, until now they have always been amicable.

Such statements do not endear me, but the end justifies the means. The Green Course to the zero-emission construction site is a long road that will take years. The first steps in this transition have been taken, but one misstep due to ignorance regarding this new matter and we are thrown way back in time. Ultimately, the industry suffers as a result. Don't make the mistake of 'adding electrical machines on top', because that only costs money, encourages errors and leads to a lack of service at the back end. I therefore advocate a clear separation between machine manufacturers on the one hand and specialists in electrical drive technology on the other. Stick to your core business and outsource this high-tech part.

JOINT ACTION

UMS is not taking the easy way out, but the fact that over the past few months I have sat down with almost all the major OEMs in the equipment sector reinforces my belief that the philosophy behind interchangeable battery packs is right. For us it is not 'forklift technology', but an automotive solution where (triple)double security is key. Electrification of construction equipment is and will remain a playground for engineers. It is time for an integral transition agenda, in which parties act together to make the right analyses and, based on those findings, unambiguously determine a direction.

If you ask me, the days of emission-free machines on a charging cable will soon be over and the hydrogen story will go out like a fairy tale. At about 1 kW of energy from hydrogen for 1 euro, that solution for mobile deployment is simply too expensive. If it is even logistically possible. With green power, you end up with battery-powered machines at 6 cents per kWh. Don't forget that construction equipment is a big consumer when it comes to energy transition. A four-person household consumes an average of 10 kWh of electricity per day for all the appliances in the house. To power a 30-ton excavator electrically requires at least 400 kWh daily. If you put twenty such cranes together, you are soon talking about an entire residential neighborhood in terms of consumption.

The market demands a uniform solution on which the entire infrastructure can be set up. UMS contributes this in the form of a multikit, which is modularly buildable. The basis is an exchangeable battery pack. We are currently in talks about standardizing this. No hassle with different plugs, but one standard for all machines in all countries. Users can buy, rent or lease the LFP battery to keep the costs interesting and also get banks and insurers on board. Only together can we ensure that the ideal image of a 100% zero-emission construction site is both attainable and achievable.
becomes affordable.