(Bloomberg) —
There’s something slightly uncanny about seeing the Takeuchi TB20e at work. Watching the excavator tear through an East London sidewalk, where it is currently being trialed by UK construction company Falco and electricity distributor UK Power Networks, it’s the sound of its motor that stands out. Instead of the familiar clatter of a diesel engine, it emits only a barely perceptible hum.
Digging a hole next to a busy side street, the machine itself is hard to hear against the roar of traffic; only the occasional clank of its metal arm against the concrete rises above the sounds of passing buses.
This serene scene is typical, the site workers told me; on one of their last jobs, the operator said, they dug up the street next to a busy cafe. After finishing, they asked the baristas if the noise had bothered the customers. The cafe’s workers were surprised to learn that the work had been taking place at all — proof either that the digger is very quiet or that espresso machines are much too loud.
This isn’t the TB20e’s only advantage. Unlike diesel-powered diggers, the operator said, the Takeuchi doesn’t need time to warm up, and it is vibration-free.
Sights like these are still unusual, but may not be for long. A wave of electrification is sweeping the construction industry, fueled not just by environmental concerns and tightening pollution mandates but also by demands for machinery that is less disruptive than the diesel-powered standard. The transition from fossil fuel to electricity is notably less discussed for backhoes, wheel loaders and forklifts than it is for passenger vehicles, but it is one that could make a real difference in creating cleaner, quieter cities and a healthier environment for workers and residents alike. That in turn stands to deliver other positive effects, easing public resistance to noisy construction projects and potentially paving the way for less costly development.
That transformation is already underway. Oslo has been the trailblazer, setting up the world’s first zero-emission construction site in 2019. As of this month, 85% of municipal construction sites in the Norwegian capital are emissions-free, and the city hopes to take that to 100% by the end of this year. Norway’s national government — which has been a global leader in the transition to electric passenger vehicles — has just allowed all cities nationwide to set up zero-emission zones that mandate electrified construction. After starting six weeks of electrical construction trials this February, London is also considering new rules to encourage a shift towards electricity.
The largest market for this equipment, however, is China, says Pranav Jaswani, a technology analyst at market consultancy IDTechEx: “There’s a general willingness in China to take on new electric products whatever they may be,” he said. “The cost of energy is fairly low and they have a lot of battery manufacturing, so the shift doesn’t come with as much risk or expense to them.”
Sales still reflect a market in its infancy. According to Jaswani, just 2% of the construction machinery sold in China today is battery-powered — although that small share is still worth over $1 billion USD per year. Sales in the EU and the US trail behind with a 1.5% and 1% total market share respectively.
Boosters of electrification emphasize the environmental advantages of the machines, which produce no CO2 when in use. Direct emissions are limited to some particulates created by friction between moving parts. While construction-related pollution doesn’t get as much attention as other greenhouse gas sources, it can be a substantial share of a city’s carbon footprint. “Generally construction accounts for from 5% to 10% of direct emissions across cities,” said Marit Vea, Oslo’s vice mayor for environment and transport. “And knowing how fast the world is urbanizing, it’s very important and surprisingly effective to cut emissions from that source, even if maybe it isn’t often spoken about.”
Electric construction equipment is also radically quieter — as much as 75% quieter than equivalent diesel-powered models — and since the machines aren’t spewing carbon monoxide, they’re capable of being used in indoor environments. Perhaps the biggest transformation promised by the technology is cultural: What happens to city life if construction becomes so hushed and peaceful that it loses its position as the preeminent urban annoyance?
There are nonetheless bumps in the road towards this cleaner, quieter future. Electric equipment often costs more upfront, though some savings can be recouped in energy costs. Many construction companies may be waiting for costs to go down or for incentives from cities to kick in. As with road-going electric vehicles, battery life and charging times remain issues. In February, Volvo Construction announced that the 450-kWh lithium-ion batteries of its 23-ton EC230 excavator could run for a full eight-hour shift in a single charge. Some models, like the Takeuchi TB20e, can be plugged into grid power and run indefinitely. But others need to be recharged after about five hours of continuous use, and battery life can be affected by extreme cold or heat.
Going all-electric can pose a challenge to companies not used to thinking about the logistics of energy use, says Volvo Construction’s head of electromobility solutions sales, Fredrik Tjernström. “You can always order more diesel,” he said. “But when you go electric, you will have a prerequisite amount of power access needed on your worksite.” Firms need to determine what their power needs will be and use mobile chargers if there’s no ready grid connection.
But for the average person, it’s the relative silence of battery-powered construction equipment that will make most difference. The cacophony of multiple diesel motors at a major worksite isn’t just an annoyance to neighbors — it contributes a public health risk. Environmental noise exposure over long periods increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and oxidative stress, with an estimated 48,000 new cases of heart disease every year in the EU related to noise exposure. Much of that din comes other sources — notably vehicle traffic — but studies have shown that construction noise is perceived as particularly disruptive.
Reducing construction disruption stands to be particularly transformative in cities such as London and New York, which are full of both noisy building sites and wealthy residents who aren’t shy about objecting to local nuisances. The UK’s wealthiest borough, London’s Kensington and Chelsea, also has by far London’s highest level of noise complaints, with the number of grievances exceeding that of the second-most disgruntled borough (neighboring and scarcely less wealthy Westminster) by more than eight times. Mitigating noise concerns can add to development costs, making work more complex and slow.
Complaints like these don’t just delay work: In some cases, such as an recently halted 520-unit housing complex near Amsterdam, they can stop it entirely. Quieter equipment could reduce the number of complaints and expand the number of permitted working hours. If needed, properly muffled battery-powered worksites could run shifts through the night without eliciting ire.
Oslo’s experience of pushing all city-run construction sites towards zero emissions suggests the shift to electricity could be easier than expected. “I have been surprised by how smooth the transition has been,” said Vea, the vice-mayor.
Construction firms and their workers have been pleased by the better working conditions. And for residents, she added, the shift to zero-emission building has been greeted with relief all around.
“Compared to other climate discussions, it has been less polarizing,” she said. “That might be because it doesn’t directly demand something from the public. You don’t get these debates where people wonder, ‘Do I have to change? Do I need to cycle or do I need to sell my car?’”
To contact the author of this story:
Feargus O’Sullivan in London at fosullivan8@bloomberg.net
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