CMEIG were pleased to be a guest at the Australian Industry Group webinar on `The Road to Zero Emissions in Transport’. Whilst the content was ‘on-road’ based, the challenges and opportunities mirror those of off-road earthmoving equipment.
Presenters included Toyota, Toll Holdings and Ampol.
Takeaways included:
- That the Internal Combustion Engine is not the enemy – rather carbon (and PM2.5 and NOx) are what is being targeted.
- Diversification of low emission offering is the key.
Low emission alternatives available and being developed including hydrogen powered internal combustion engines, carbon neutral fuels and blended fuel ICE options, biofuel and electric alternatives such as
- Hybrid
- BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles)
- PHEV (Plug in Hybrid)
- FCEV – (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle)
From a fuel infrastructure perspective, it was interesting to note the future of electricity generation as being more de-centralised including home charging of passenger motor vehicles supported by public fast charging in premium locations.
Heavy transport (i.e. Prime Movers) are likely to be a key user of hydrogen on Australia’s eastern seaboard with hydrogen infrastructure also being applicable to earthmoving equipment.
Commentary around industry requirements to assist the transition to a low/zero emission future included:
- Any policy that increases certainty for OEMs has to be a positive
- Tare weight concessions for heavier battery driven transport
- Price parity / relativity of hydrogen to diesel
- National CO2 policy.
CMEIG continues to engage closely with the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) on prospective, regulatory requirements for off-road earthmoving equipment.