Fuels for the future
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the major challenges facing the off-highway sector. With the goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the future, exhibitors at Systems & Components are working on alternative drive concepts and pursuing an open technology approach—one that also prepares established systems for the future. Looking ahead to the innovations being presented from November 9 to 15 at the Hannover exhibition grounds in Germany, one thing is clear: the diesel engine will continue to have its place—but it will no longer be the all-purpose solution for every application.
As varied as the tasks of agricultural and construction machinery may be, most of these vehicles have one thing in common: the diesel engine. It still accounts for over 80 percent of the off-highway market. Its robustness, low operating costs, and the ease and speed of refueling form the basis of its continued appeal. Experts estimate that by 2035, more than three-quarters of vehicles with over 56 kilowatts of power will still be equipped with a diesel engine.
For Petra Kaiser of the DLG (German Agricultural Society), there is no doubt that combustion engines will remain essential for heavy-duty vehicles for a long time to come. However, the Brand Manager of Systems & Components also acknowledges: “The discussions concerning low-emission drive alternatives are not leaving manufacturers of mobile working machines indifferent. Even heavy-duty engines are increasingly coming into focus for engineers, aiming to meet required emission standards across all performance classes while also reducing fuel consumption.”
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