Page 11 - Hub-4 Magazine Issue 76

Molson Focus
Molson Group bring
their service portal
into play By John Edwards
From 1 April 2022, changes to UK law mean that many people and businesses who use red diesel (AKA rebated fuel; gas oil; tractor diesel) will need to switch to more costly white diesel, which carries the full Fuel Duty rate...
This change to the red diesel rules is part of the Government’s 2050 net-zero decarbonisation plan. It is aimed to encourage the wider use of white diesel and greener fuels by the commercial sector, especially in mining, quarrying, construction, plant, logistics, leisure, and highway maintenance.
At the recent Hillhead exhibition, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jason Powles, Chief Operating Officer at Molson Group to discuss the recent changes on diesel fuel and the reaction from the construction, quarrying and recycling industries and Molson’s take on it from a dealer ‘point of view.’
Jason, "The economic impact of the rules change has been catastrophic for some businesses; a number of our clients have seen their fuel bill triple and with the volumes they're buying, it is a significant concern."
We discussed the practicalities and agreed that everyone has an opinion on the future of diesel power - with some arguing
that with the advent of electrified equipment it is on its way out, with others saying it will always have its place. One thing however is certain; alternatives are available, and some are becoming more realistic options in terms of practicality and cost. Many OEMs agree that the option of hydrogen propulsion is many years away and it is obvious with the industry where it is, that the problem is not going to go away. The hybridisation and electrification of construction equipment is a trend that has been gaining momentum and is a choice now often made in the Recycling Industry where this mode of propulsion is comparatively easier.
How viable are hydrogen fuel cells in construction equipment?
Hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology and its potential application in construction equipment is being increasingly discussed, but there are questions surrounding how cost- effective it can be in real world applications.
It is a fairly simple concept; HFCs combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which runs a motor. The only by- products are heat and water.
With compact fuel cells that take up less space than batteries, equipment manufacturers can be more creative in machine design. Unlike traditional lead-acid batteries, hydrogen fuel cells have no power degradation, and refuelling takes about three minutes, much like an internal combustion engine.
www.hub-4.com Sept/October 22 - Issue 76
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