Editor’s Note: This opinion piece by Tom Jackson is Part Seven 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. You can read Part One in the series by clicking here. Part Two. Part Three. Part Four ,Part 5 and Part 6.
Anyone who has been around heavy equipment in the last 15 years remembers the disruption and uncertainty caused by the forced march to Tier 4 Final diesel emissions requirements.
Despite billions spent on research and development, many OEMs had to pay fines for missing cutoff dates. Some engines failed. One company declared bankruptcy. Diesel lube oil companies changed formulations four times to meet the increasingly harsh demands of the new engines. It was the right thing to do, but because of the regulatory timeline, it was rushed and created massive problems for contractors and OEMs alike.
The push is on now for low-carbon or net-zero carbon equipment as we have documented in this series of articles. And while there are no regulatory requirements for this technology right now, most industry observers think a “Tier 5” scenario is likely in the future.
The OEMs have already proven they can make near-zero CO2 machines. But the process of manufacturing them, the batteries they need, and providing the electricity to charge the batteries are not without their own environmental consequences.
For automobiles, at least, the newsletter TechCrunch says the path to an all-electric future is anything but certain:
