Capital Equipment News November 2017

How will a diesel-free future impact the construction industry?

Governments and manufacturers envisioning a diesel-free future for on-road vehicles hit the headlines recently. But how will this impact the construction industry and how will it adapt? This July, the automotive industry was rocked by a far-reaching announcement when Volvo Cars stated that all its new cars would be electric or hybrid from 2019 onwards. The following day, the French government announced it would end sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 as a way to fight against air pollution. A few weeks later, the British government followed with a similar proposal. But what will these bans mean for the construction industry and off-road vehicles? Construction equipment is largely run on diesel engines and so far, no official announcements have been made concerning their use once these bans come into effect. While decisions are yet to be made on what a diesel-free future means for construction equipment, Low Emission Zones (LEZs) currently provide an insight into how urban construction projects can have a less harmful effect on air quality right now. The European Union sets emission standards that define the acceptable amount of pollution that can be emitted by the exhaust of a vehicle sold in the EU and EEA member states. Depending on the area, Komatsu South Africa has delivered a massive fleet of 28 GD675-5 motor graders to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Transport. The fleet represents the biggest single sale of the particular product in southern Africa and one secured against stiff competition from several rival manufacturers. According to Mike Helm, Komatsu’s GM: Sales and Marketing, a number of key factors contributed to the success – not least Komatsu’s ability to tailor products to meet specific customer requirements. “The department stipulates that a second seat be fitted to all graders to accommodate a driver’s assistant or lookout as a safety precaution. Close cooperation between Komatsu’s factory in Japan and local technical specialists ensured that we could produce a product that is fully compliant with the department’s specifications,” says Helm. Helm adds that while price was undeniably an important consideration, Komatsu was able to offer a competitive, high specification product with the added benefit of KomCare, a maintenance and service package. “In our dealings with our customers we

vehicles with higher emissions either cannot enter the area at all, or have to pay a fee if they do. To avoid the expense – real or perceived – of having to pay fees to bring construction machines into restricted areas, construction equipment firms are increasingly being asked by customers to fit a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) to machines, to reduce the diesel particulate matter (black soot) from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. “In recent years, there has been a definite upswing in requests for DPFs to be fitted to machines that are working in urban development and don’t have them as standard,” says Kurt Deleu, director of regional sales support (Europe) at Volvo CE. “But it’s important to mention, this is not always a clear legal requirement [of working in the LEZ].” If it’s not a legal requirement, why the requests? It seems Volvo CE customers are simply preparing for the future. “DPFs are currently seen as an extra precaution in response to a perceived need to meet regulations in Low Emission Zones,” Deleu adds. “But as regulations around Low Emission Zones continue to become stricter, it’s likely this trend will continue.” Volvo recently demonstrated the EX2 pro- totype – a fully electric compact excavator that delivers zero emissions, 10 times higher efficiency and 10 times lower noise levels identified the need for specialist packages that would deliver exceptional standards of servicing, but at the lowest possible cost. The KomCare specialist maintenance and service package is unique to Komatsu and is tailored to meet individual customer needs,” he says. “While other manufacturers offer outwardly similar plans, they are restricted to specific time periods and other constraints. The KomCare facility is structured into the purchase price and remains in force for as long as the machine is retained and this certainly had a major influence on the department’s buying decision,” he adds. The sale was finalised late in December 2016, and saw a great deal of activity at Komatsu’s Isando-based headquarters through Christmas and into the new year. Pressure was intense as the department was not only keen to replace its existing and ageing fleet of graders, but to accommodate as many units as possible before the end- March closure of its financial year. The delivery of the entire fleet, complete with modifications, began in March and was

The ECR88D mini-digger is fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter as standard, making it ideal for use in Low Emission Zones.

– at the Volvo Group Innovation Summit in London earlier this year. It is believed to be the world’s first fully electric compact exca- vator prototype. While the concept machine is purely a research project at this stage, Volvo CE continues to develop technologies connected to electromobility, intelligent ma- chines and total site solutions that benefit customers and the environment. “Considering the seriousness of air pollu- tion, and the moves governments are making to highlight it, this is an area we believe will continue to be high on the agenda and one we are committed to finding solutions for,” Deleu concludes. b completed by mid-April to four different locations across the province. The graders’ primary task is the creation and maintenance of rural gravel roads. Eight units were shipped to Empangeni, a similar number to Pietermaritzburg, 10 to Ladysmith and a further couple to Durban. They will eventually work the length and breadth of KZN, from the border of Mozambique to the north, as far down as the Eastern Cape and inland toward the Free State and Lesotho.

28 Komatsu graders for KZN Department of Transport

Mike Helm, Komatsu SA’s GM Sales & Marketing (left) handing over keys to Lawrence Mtambo, director at DOT Empangeni.

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