The Future of Heavy Equipment: Carbon Reduction Innovations

As more decision-makers in the utilities industry consider the heavy equipment needed for various intensive jobs, they increasingly look for options to shrink their carbon footprints while maintaining or enhancing current productivity levels. Fortunately, people have many possibilities to explore, whether they purchase new equipment or optimize what they already own. 

Autonomous Heavy Equipment Could Cut Emissions

Site managers know that overall emissions tend to rise along with overall site traffic. That occurs as more heavy trucks move to and from project locations and workers enter and leave the property throughout their workdays. What if future heavy equipment operated solely or mostly without the influence of human operators? 

Many companies have shown what is possible with such innovations. For example, one manufacturer debuted a concept version of a futuristic excavator. One of its most standout characteristics was the lack of a driver’s cab. Additionally, the machine has numerous electric-powered components and does not require hydraulic oil. Company representatives hope such equipment could tackle ongoing labor shortages by allowing site managers to get the same amount or more done with fewer operators. 

However, those results would also have sustainability benefits. Imagine a worksite with solely autonomous equipment and a small team of people supervising it. Such scenarios would significantly reduce vehicular traffic, slashing carbon emissions.

A similar strategy involves supervised autonomy, where people oversee equipment from afar, sometimes controlling it remotely when needed. Then, instead of individuals sitting in equipment cabs, they do their jobs from centralized locations and watch several pieces of equipment at once. This option increases comfort and safety while making the duties more accessible because people do not need heavy equipment certifications for the roles.

A representative from a company using these remote-controlled machines also pointed out that employees save hours ordinarily spent driving to and from sites. Reducing their car use should also reduce emissions. Although electric vehicles are becoming more popular, most drivers still have gas-powered versions.

Better Monitoring Can Improve Operator Coaching

Site managers know that overall emissions tend to rise along with overall site traffic. That occurs as more heavy trucks move to and from project locations and workers enter and leave the property throughout their workdays. What if future heavy equipment operated solely or mostly without the influence of human operators? 

Many companies have shown what is possible with such innovations. For example, one manufacturer debuted a concept version of a futuristic excavator. One of its most standout characteristics was the lack of a driver’s cab. Additionally, the machine has numerous electric-powered components and does not require hydraulic oil. Company representatives hope such equipment could tackle ongoing labor shortages by allowing site managers to get the same amount or more done with fewer operators. 

However, those results would also have sustainability benefits. Imagine a worksite with solely autonomous equipment and a small team of people supervising it. Such scenarios would significantly reduce vehicular traffic, slashing carbon emissions.

A similar strategy involves supervised autonomy, where people oversee equipment from afar, sometimes controlling it remotely when needed. Then, instead of individuals sitting in equipment cabs, they do their jobs from centralized locations and watch several pieces of equipment at once. This option increases comfort and safety while making the duties more accessible because people do not need heavy equipment certifications for the roles.

A representative from a company using these remote-controlled machines also pointed out that employees save hours ordinarily spent driving to and from sites. Reducing their car use should also reduce emissions. Although electric vehicles are becoming more popular, most drivers still have gas-powered versions.

Better Monitoring Can Improve Operator Coaching

A frequently mentioned reality is that fleet managers must know which problems exist before trying to solve them. Fortunately, they can use specialized equipment-monitoring solutions that give them granular details. That information can become a baseline that informs people of the most emissions-intensive activities and the roles people have in influencing them. For example, an operator who engages in too many fast starts or hard braking events will likely have more associated emissions than someone who uses heavy equipment more moderately.

Similarly, industrial monitoring equipment that alerts people to unusual performance trends could encourage them to investigate further and address problems that could cause abnormally high emissions. Some products work with legacy and newly purchased equipment, providing appealing flexibility to boost adoption rates and overall interest. Additionally, many solutions allow people to access real-time data from various internet-connected devices, whether laptops, tablets or smartphones.

When supervisors can use data to establish clear trends, that information could prompt them to have corrective coaching sessions with operators. Sometimes, the issue is not that someone purposely uses the equipment in emissions-intensive ways. However, they do not immediately realize that specific activities — such as unnecessary idling — can waste fuel and elevate emissions. Open and honest communication can pave the way for lasting and meaningful progress.

Similarly, if monitoring tools show sudden performance drops on equipment that appears to be operating normally, fleet managers could take a closer look based on what the data indicates, potentially revealing easy-to-fix issues that would increase emissions.

Environmental Impact Mitigation Comes in Many Forms

In addition to ensuring heavy equipment remains safe, fleet managers must comply with numerous environmental regulations set by state and national authorities. Concerned parties know there is no universal way to mitigate environmental impacts. The specific actions taken vary depending on a project’s size, type, budget and other individual factors. 

Keeping heavy equipment well-maintained can be an excellent way to reduce emissions. Similarly, it is worth investigating whether retrofitting kits could enable strategic upgrades that do not require purchasing entirely new assets. 

Fleet managers should also explore resource utilization improvements. Perhaps a cloud-based platform can show that three pieces of equipment are simultaneously running when only two can do the job. 

Ensuring people only operate heavy machinery when necessary is a straightforward but effective way to cut carbon emissions. Some solutions also allow people to activate geofencing features or remotely cut the power to individual pieces of equipment. Those capabilities discourage theft attempts and give managers confidence that no one can operate the machines outside particular times. 

Green Power Is Worth Considering

Another option is to transition to green power when appropriate. The price of energy produced from solar sources is now an average of 26% lower than in the early 2000s. It’s a striking example of how ongoing progress can increase affordability and accessibility. Some heavy equipment manufacturers offer solar-powered chargers to accompany their electric models. 

Experiments with vehicles that get energy from the sun are few and far between. However, once utility companies begin transitioning to electric-powered options, the next best thing could be to use greener chargers. 

In June 2022, an electric company became the first in the U.S. to add all-electric bucket trucks to its fleet. This strategy is part of an overarching plan to provide 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030. Additionally, by that same year, the company’s executives intend to electrify 30% of its medium and heavy-duty vehicles and 100% of the light-duty models. 

Succeeding with such changes requires people to familiarize themselves with commercial options and select those most appropriate for their needs. These trucks have a 135-mile range, and operators can use bucket lifts for full workdays between charges.

Leaders also decided that the results of a trial lasting up to a year would determine further investments in these electric bucket trucks. Setting clearly defined goals and creating a system for giving and collecting feedback is instrumental during these short-term tests. 

A Bright Future for Greener Heavy Equipment 

Heavy equipment produces significant emissions, but the improvements and options discussed above can help electric utility company decision-makers begin evaluating the most practical ways to make desirable changes and develop measurable ways to minimize environmental footprints now and in the foreseeable future.