Underground Infrastructure - April 2023 - 6

EDITOR'SLOG
Robert Carpenter | Editor-in-Chief
The Electric Buzz
I made it back alive from a week in Vegas
and I still have pictures of construction
equipment burned in my mind. The triannual
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
6 APRIL 2023 | UndergroundInfrastructure.com
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. UI
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Underground Infrastructure - April 2023

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