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Hire&Rental
INDUSTRY NEWS
AUGUST 2021
Shifting to electric The push is on for electric vehicles around the world as manufacturers produce vast numbers across an array of vehicle types. Keith Clarke Haulotte Australia General Manager looks at the latest developments. When looking at the reasons behind the growing appetite for electric vehicle fleets worldwide – tipped to help address the environmental impact of traditional diesel vehicles, we must look to the varying global market regulations which have triggered the shift toward electric EWP equipment. Understanding these regulations shines a light on potential reasons they are not being embraced in the same way in Australia as they are in other countries.
emissions of particulate matter and adds a new restriction in terms of number of particles, forcing manufacturers to equip non-road engines of between 19kW and 560kW with diesel particulate filters. China has also committed to the same standards as the European Stage program, currently implementing stage III for diesel vehicles.
For background, fossil fuels represent around 80% of energy sources, and it is becoming increasing difficult to extract them as supply dramatically reduces. Meanwhile on road and off-road vehicles are a major source of air pollution around the world. Vehicles are responsible for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons (a toxic compound of hydrogen and carbon), nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. These emissions can lead to dramatic health concerns for the respiratory system and heart, not to mention the impact on the natural environment.
As we lag behind, the question remains, why isn’t Australia formally committed to a program for NRMM vehicles? As a nation we place a high value on our amazing landscape, flora and fauna, yet we have not made a commitment to reduce emissions from our NRMM vehicles. Around the world there are also individual city commitments to green spaces, low emissions, and air quality improvements. Since 2008, London has operated one of Europe’s largest Low Emission Zones (LEZ) affecting road and off-road vehicles.
Changing fuel sources to save the planet The world is starting to develop systems and strategies to curb this alarming trend of environmental damage. 195 countries, including Australia, signed the Paris agreement promising to reduce its emissions by 26 to 28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. In addition, Europe and North America have different regulations they’ve already implemented relating to diesel engines. A step-by-step schedule is underway called STAGE program for Europe and TIER program for North America. These provide dates and goals towards the elimination of diesel engine use and manufacturing of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM). Stage V has now commenced and will require lower levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide and sets stricter limits on
What’s the holdup in Australia?
It has now been extended to include NRMM vehicles that enter the Low Emission Zone, which must now have engines that meet the Stage IV emission standards. Australian cities could lead the way in committing to electric machines for dedicated green zones. There is the argument that the electricity mix in Australia is not the same as Europe, with our strong reliance on brown and black coal. The shift is happening towards more sustainable/renewable power sources with South Australia over 60% and Tasmania now 100% renewable energy sources. Even when considering a majority still being coal production, Bloomberg NEF found the EV motor is around 85–90 per cent efficient when converting coal-fired energy to power. Carbon dioxide emissions from batterypowered vehicles were around 40 per cent lower than for internal combustion engines in 2019.
As we lag behind, the question remains, why isn’t Australia formally committed to a program for NRMM vehicles?
