Komatsu, through its wholly owned subsidiary in the US, Komatsu America Corp., has agreed to acquire American Battery Solutions, Inc. (ABS), a battery systems manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Komatsu is planning to close the acquisition on 1 December 2023, on the condition that all necessary procedures for the closing... Read more →

Caterpillar has launched a three-year program to demonstrate an advanced hydrogen-hybrid power solution built on its new Cat C13D engine platform. Starting in the first quarter of 2024, Caterpillar will develop a transient-capable system for off-highway applications. The project will demonstrate how advanced control systems and electric-hybrid components can help... Read more →

Norway-based Applied Hydrogen AS, a developer of hydrogen-powered equipment and refueling systems for the construction industry, and Ballard Power Systems are partnering on the development of a new zero-emission fuel cell excavator, incorporating Ballard’s FCmove-XD 120kW fuel cell engine. Supported by Enova, an enterprise of the Norwegian Ministry of Climate... Read more →

At Agritechnica, Cummins confirmed its commitment to the hydrogen economy as part of its Destination Zero strategy. Following recent acquisitions and investment, Cummins’ focus is on three key areas for hydrogen: the production of green hydrogen; the management and transportation of hydrogen; and the application of hydrogen in engines and... Read more →

For sustainable drive solutions for agricultural machinery and off-road applications, MAN Engines has presented the MAN H4576. This newly developed hydrogen combustion engine is based on the proven engine base of the D3876 diesel engine. With an output of 500 hp (368 kW) and a displacement of 16.8 liters, the... Read more →

Blue World Technologies and AGCO Power have developed a range extender concept and prototype for an electric Fendt e100 Vario tractor based on Blue World’s HT PEM fuel cell platform enabling long operation time using liquid methanol as fuel. Field demonstration of an early concept electric Fendt tractor with a... Read more →

At Agritechnica 2023, MAN Engines will be showing a wide range of proven as well as completely new products under the motto “Powering The Green Transformation – Off-road solutions for the future”. The highlight of the trade fair appearance of MAN Engines—a business unit of MAN Truck & Bus—is the... Read more →

Equipmake, the UK-based engineering specialist pioneering the development and production of electrification products across the automotive, aerospace, bus, and coach industries, will collaborate with Perkins on a new off-highway hybrid system project. Awarded a total of £11.14 million (US$13.6 million) in government funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), with... Read more →

Perkins announced the development of the Perkins 2600 Series, a new 13-liter diesel engine platform designed to achieve best-in-class power density, torque and fuel efficiency for heavy duty off-highway applications. Targeting applications in agriculture, construction, and numerous other sectors, the new platform extends Perkins leadership in high-performing, mid-sized engines with... Read more →

Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC, a provider of fuel cell power solutions for motive applications, is powering the hydrogen fuel cell reachstacker that Hyster has developed and shipped to the Port of Valencia in Spain. The reachstacker is part of the H2Ports project, which aims to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment... Read more →

Working with mining machinery is associated with a wide variety of hazards. Collisions between excavators, dump trucks, or caterpillar trucks and people or obstacles are a common cause of accidents. To avoid accidents the drivers must always have the entire area surrounding the vehicle in view. This causes constant stress... Read more →

Israel-based Foresight Autonomous Holdings, a developer of automotive vision systems, has signed a paid proof-of-concept (POC) project with the Chinese subsidiary of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial equipment, heavy machinery, construction and mining equipment. The Fortune 500 company will evaluate Foresight’s QuadSight technology to provide autonomous capabilities... Read more →

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is making available its 48V DC protocol for electric charging solutions in a bid to accelerate electrification and make it easier for customers with a multi-branded fleet. There is currently no industry standard for 48V DC charging solutions—the power required for electric compact machines—which means... Read more →

Antwerp Terminal Services (ATS), a joint venture between MSC PSA Europe Terminal (MPET) and PSA Antwerp (PSAA), recently launched the first hydrogen dual-fuel straddle carrier in the Port of Antwerp. Using H2 dual fuel combustion engine technology developed by cleantech company CMB.TECH and integrated into a straddle carrier with the... Read more →

Komatsu has developed a concept machine for a medium-sized hydraulic excavator that combines a hydrogen fuel cell and Komatsu-developed key components. By advancing the PoC (Proof of Concept) tests it started in May 2023, Komatsu says it will accelerate its efforts to embark on the commercial production of medium-sized and... Read more →

On the foundation of their 2021 collaboration agreement and of technical work achieved together over the past two years, Nouveau Monde Graphite and Caterpillar signed definitive agreements for Caterpillar to supply NMG’s Matawinie Mine with an integrated solution that covers a zero-exhaust emission fleet, supporting infrastructure, and service. Caterpillar is... Read more →

At this year’s demopark open-air exhibition, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a prototype of the Unimog based on the U 430 with hydrogen-powered combustion engine as part of the publicly funded “WaVe” project. The project, funded by Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, is being implemented jointly by 18... Read more →

MAN Engines is now equipping the PistenBully 800 from Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG with its MAN D3876 engine. The basis for the delivery of the in-line six-cylinder engine was the further development and adaptation of the MAN D3876 to the extreme working environment of the new high-performance snow groomer from Laupheim.... Read more →

JCB publicly unveiled its new port fuel injected, 4.8L inline-four hydrogen combustion engine (448 ABH2)—the company’s zero-carbon emissions solution for construction and agricultural equipment—at the Conexpo 2023 show in Las Vegas as part of the International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE). JCB is investing £100 million in the project to produce... Read more →

As a result of acquisitions and investment, Cummins is focusing on three key areas for hydrogen: the production of green hydrogen; the management and transportation of hydrogen; and the application of hydrogen in engines and fuel cells. At Con Expo, Accelera, the new brand for Cummins’ New Power business segment,... Read more →

Volvo Penta and leading North American telescopic boom excavator manufacturer Gradall Industries are showcasing the latest development in their partnership at CONEXPO this week—an electrified version of the OEM’s XL 4100 V highway speed wheeled excavator. The zero-emissions concept machine, named EL41H4, is on display at the Gradall Booth, W41500.... Read more →

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company introduced the Powerload lineup to the North America construction, loading, logistics support and landscaping markets. The new Powerload lineup, now available in North America, has advanced features and technologies specifically designed to deliver traction and durability for compact wheel loaders and graders, regardless of... Read more →

On 27 February, the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy hosted a hydrogen summit. Fendt presented prototype of a hydrogen tractor there for the first time. I see hydrogen as a very important solution to problems in agriculture and forestry. Agriculture and forestry can supply a... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems and First Mode announced a purchase order for Ballard to supply First Mode with 30 hydrogen fuel cell modules—totaling 3 megawatts—to power several hybrid hydrogen and battery ultra-class mining haul trucks. This is the equivalent of approximately 4,000 horsepower. The 30 Ballard hydrogen fuel cell modules will... Read more →

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has developed a solution to convert the L120 wheel loader to electric, fulfilling market appetite for more sustainable solutions in the mid-size range. Developed in conjunction with partners—Parker Hannifin and converted by Volvo Group’s own CE Engineering Solutions—the 20-ton L120H Electric Conversion will be commercially... Read more →

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) announced an investment into battery pack production at its excavator plant in Changwon, South Korea. The Changwon plant in South Korea specializes in the production of excavators and is the biggest excavator production site in Volvo CE. With the SEK 80-million (around $7.8-million) investment from... Read more →

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) will invest SEK 65 million ($6.3 million) into the production of electric wheel loaders from its plant in Arvika, Sweden. The Arvika factory specializes in the production of medium and large wheel loaders and has already been successful in driving down its carbon emissions. A... Read more →

Global engineering group Cavotec recently launched its ultra-fast Megawatt Charging System (MCS). Providing up to 3MW of power from a single connector, the MCS is a turnkey DC charging solution with grid-to-inlet functionality that supports the decarbonization of industrial vehicles and ships. The MCS consists of: a high-power electronic module,... Read more →

Monarch Tractor, maker of a fully electric autonomous tractor, and its Farm Electrification Consortium partners have received a $3-million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to accelerate electrification of agricultural equipment and demonstrate the ability of batteries in on-farm equipment to keep critical electrical loads running during power outages... Read more →

IDTechEx’s latest master electric vehicle report “Electric Vehicles: Land, Sea & Air 2022-2042” finds 35.7 million electric vehicles (EV) were sold in 2021 and predicts this will rise to more than 74 million by 2030. While electric cars will remain the largest electric vehicle market for the foreseeable future in... Read more →

Neste and Rolls-Royce have agreed to build a strategic partnership on accelerating the use of renewable diesel as a lower-emission solution for diesel engines. Both parties share a common vision of renewable fuels playing a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in off-highway applications, such as construction and power... Read more →

At bauma—the world’s leading construction machinery trade fair—in Munich, Bosch placed particular emphasis on the potential for hydrogen engines and electrification to make the sector significantly more sustainable. According to Bosch studies, more than half a million construction machines in the performance class from 56 to 560 kilowatts will be... Read more →

Komatsu will exhibit a 20-ton-class electric hydraulic excavator equipped with a lithium-ion battery system for the first time at bauma2022. The machine is powered by a 451 kWh lithium-ion battery system from US-based Proterra. Since January 2021, the two companies have been jointly developing electric medium-sized hydraulic excavators, and have... Read more →

Scania and Rio Tinto are developing more agile autonomous haul trucks at a mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region to pursue potential environmental and productivity benefits. A Scania autonomous truck is loaded at Rio Tinto's Channar iron ore mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region. The two companies have established a... Read more →

Skeleton Technologies, a developer of curved graphene-based supercapacitor and battery energy storage, officially launched its SuperBattery (earlier post), and announced Shell as a partner. Skeleton is joining a Shell-led consortium to offer electrification solutions for mining sites. (Earlier post.) SuperBattery combines the characteristics of supercapacitors and batteries. SuperBattery has been... Read more →

Shell has established a nine-member consortium to create a new pilot offering of electrification solutions for mining sites. Skeleton, Microvast, Stäubli, Carnegie Robotics, Heliox, Spirae, Alliance Automation, Worley and Shell have come together to introduce Shell’s Mining Electrification Solutions for Off-Road Vehicles—an end-to-end and interoperable electrification system that reduces emissions... Read more →

Allison Transmission introduced the eGen Force electric hybrid propulsion system for tracked combat vehicles. Designed for 50-ton tracked vehicles, the eGen Force meets the requirements for the US Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program. The eGen Force is also scalable to 70-ton tracked vehicles, making it capable of meeting... Read more →

Moog has collaborated with Komatsu to build a fully electric compact wheel loader machine. The companies will demonstrate the connected and automation-ready, zero-emission, battery-powered machine at bauma 2022 from 24-30 October at Messe München. Moog’s intelligent machine electrification system includes an electric traction motor, lift, tilt and steering electric cylinders,... Read more →

BHP Group, Caterpillar, and Finning International announced an agreement to replace BHP’s entire haul truck fleet at the Escondida mine—the world’s largest producer of copper concentrates and cathodes located in the Antofagasta Region, northern Chile. This agreement is part of a strategic equipment renewal process developed by Escondida. The new... Read more →

Cummins and Canada-based Buhler Industries, a leading tractor manufacturer under the Versatile brand, signed a letter of intent for plans to integrate the Cummins 15-liter hydrogen engines in Versatile’s equipment to lead the decarbonization of the agriculture market. Cummins M15H Since 1967, Versatile has used Cummins engines exclusively in all... Read more →

Allison Transmission, a leading designer and manufacturer of conventional and electrified vehicle propulsion solutions for tactical wheeled and tracked defense vehicles, and medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, has been awarded a $6.55-million contract by the US Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center to design, develop and test an electric hybrid sub-system... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $96-million funding opportunity (Fiscal Year 2022 Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement) to support decarbonizing the domestic transportation sector. The funding will focus on expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging accessibility, create cleaner non-road vehicles through electrification and the use of... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) opened the second round of its Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) today, providing point-of-sale discounts on off-road zero-emission equipment. The project is administered by CALSTART and has $125 million in funding available, more than double the amount allocated to the project when... Read more →

Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (INO) has ordered a full fleet of Epiroc battery-electric equipment for use at the Onaping Depth Project in Ontario, Canada. The nickel and copper mine is located below the existing Craig mine and is being developed to start production in 2024. The order also includes... Read more →

Cummins and Komatsu, a global provider of equipment and services for the construction and mining industries, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development of zero-emissions haulage equipment. Building on a legacy of diesel engine partnership across a wide variety of mining and construction equipment, Cummins and... Read more →

Following the completion of a multi-stakeholder research project aimed at breaking new ground in hydrogen technology, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has started testing of the world’s first fuel-cell articulated hauler prototype, the Volvo HX04. The results of the project will provide important insights into the possibilities provided by hydrogen... Read more →

SafeAI, a global leader in autonomous heavy equipment, announced a collaboration with Siemens today to create an autonomous, zero emission heavy vehicle fleet for Obayashi Corporation. SafeAI and Siemens will work with Obayashi Corporation, a Japan-based global leader in construction, to create smarter, safer, more sustainable and productive construction sites.... Read more →

Automated Mercedes-Benz trucks are being used in the Brazilian sugar cane harvest since 2019. Mercedes-Benz do Brasil has configured the Mercedes-Benz Axor specifically for automated harvesting operations as part of a development partnership with the Brazilian agricultural technology manufacturer Grunner. By the end of this year, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil will... Read more →

Canada-based dynaCERT Inc. has sold seven of its HydraGEN on-board electrolysis units ( the HG1R, 4C and 6C units) which are to be installed in Peru, Argentina and Brazil in open-pit mines on various equipment, including Caterpillar 793 and 777 Haul Trucks and a large 4.5 MW diesel generator with... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced the second round of its Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE), tripling the amount of allocated funding from the previous round for equipment used in agriculture, airport, railyard, port, construction, and marine operations. The project is administered by CALSTART, a national clean... Read more →