Going For Green
 |
| Guy Ramsey |
November 3, 2004—Last issue's Equipment Review was about the Haulotte HB40 40-foot boom lift, equipped with a 38 hp Deutz diesel engine. This is the largest diesel engine option the company offers. As I noted in the article, buyers might perceive this as underpowered because many competitive models are equipped with diesel engines rated up to 60 hp. Most of these competitive models are sold to the North American market. Yet, the 38 hp Haulotte that I tested had plenty of power—more than enough to accomplish any task I would demand of it. Competitors selling bigger engines to
The gap between European and North American horsepower expectations is big, but what's the reason? Do excessively high fuel costs in
The cost of fuel has risen to record highs during the past few weeks—up to more than $50 per barrel of crude oil. With
As an equipment owner or user, the price of crude has a two-fold impact on your budget. First is the rising cost of products affected by more expensive raw materials and increased costs associated with the transportation of products. Often overlooked, however, is the second budgetary impact—the cost of fuel to operate your equipment. The cost of fuel wasn't such a big deal when it was selling for $1.50 per gallon for unleaded gasoline and $1.75 per gallon for diesel. Some markets are looking to see those numbers nearly doubling in the near future. That could really put the squeeze on budgets.
I recently discussed the issue of fuel consumption with Wayne MacDonald, JLG's Senior Vice President of Engineering. This issue remains a top priority for the company, which has long been a leader in producing highly efficient electric and hybrid-powered aerial work platforms. A prime example is the Pro-Fit scissor lift line, but the company has also identified the need to produce more fuel-efficient internal combustion aerial work platforms and telescopic handlers. Besides the obvious environmental benefits, the fuel savings over the lifetime of a machine can be extraordinary. Assume that an oversized engine consumes an additional two gallons of fuel per day. With the cost of diesel projected to rise to $3.00 per gallon, you could spend up to $1,820 per year in additional fuel coasts. Higher if fuels prices really escalate.
It used to be that operators shut their equipment down while other tasks were performed, but today's engines are not the noisy nuisance they once were. Instead they are often left to idle. The advent of hydraulically powered options such as generators, welders, compressors, and air conditioners, mean the engine might idle away dawn to dusk. In a typical 40-foot boom lift, this would mean a 60 hp engine is left idling just so someone can have “on demand” power for a drill motor. Deplorably, this engine is often left burning gallons of fuel just so it can power a radio or charge a cell phone.
We need to wake up to the fact that, in general, we're wasteful! Meanwhile, OEMs need to continue to reduce fuel consumption by producing more efficient machines. Smaller but adequate engines and more efficient hydraulic systems are a great start. But we really need to look hard at the way we provide power for all the options and creature comforts we are putting into the cabs and work platforms of our equipment. Operators need to be more conservative, running the engine only when necessary.
If a hope of a greener environment doesn't appeal to you then maybe the extra green in your wallet will.
