What’s nibbling away at your bottom line if you’re in the construction business? It’s likely your fuel costs. Over time, they continue to trend upward. Many construction companies try the precarious balancing act of passing these increases to their clients, but it puts them in danger of not being competitive.
The search for alternatives can be frustrating. The big construction machines need power, so the idea of fuel efficiency sometimes runs counter to the manufacturing and design process. There’s only so much you can do to the internal combustion engine to extract fuel efficiency without sacrificing the functionality that construction equipment needs most. But there are some innovative solutions.
The Pinch at the pump
A recent survey funded by the construction equipment manufacturer Komatsu revealed just how much of a concern increasing costs of fuel are to the industry. As the prices go up, it becomes a much larger part of their operating budgets:
- Nearly 77% of respondents said fuel efficiency has recently become a greater priority for them.
- Almost 44% said that up to half of their operational budgets would have to be allocated to fuel costs.
- The same percentage said that the time has come to buy more fuel-efficient construction equipment.
Motor fuels are the lifeblood of construction companies, and it’s not just those big dozers, excavators, and backhoes, either. A high percentage of any-sized equipment simply can’t operate without it. Running dry means progress slows or even halts. While it’s possible to push back a bit by monitoring fuel usage or implementing fuel-management solutions, the problem remains. Your equipment needs it to run and you need to pay a lot of overhead for fuel.
What if your equipment didn't need traditional fuel
A growing number of innovative construction companies with an eye toward the bottom line are turning to battery power. They’ve run the numbers. It makes more sense – because it saves more money – to switch.
The most immediate change is, of course, lower fuel costs. But there’s a long-term benefit driving things; these construction companies will see increased profit margins as their new battery-powered equipment becomes even more cost-effective over time.
The motors in battery-powered construction equipment are far less complicated than their fossil fuel-burning cousins. It gives battery-powered equipment the extra advantage of needing less maintenance. Add those long-term savings to the bottom line, as well. The case is building that an investment in battery-powered construction equipment is also an investment in efficiency and ROI.
Unexpected benefits in other areas
Construction sites are not quiet places. Fuel-powered construction equipment is the cause of much of the noise pollution bothering nearby people and businesses. But battery-powered construction equipment is fundamentally quieter.
While it’s a big PR win for any construction company that’s concerned about site noise, the benefit doesn’t stop there. The lower noise levels produced by battery-powered construction equipment also make it safer to work around them because of potentially less need for hearing protection. And the type of construction equipment that lends itself to battery power often requires its operator to be in very close proximity to it.
Black Smoke Bleches Be Gone - The Key Benefit for working indoors
Noise pollution damages our ears. The exhaust from the internal combustion engines of traditional construction equipment contributes to the air pollution that damages our planet’s ecology. That’s no longer an issue for concern with battery-powered equipment.
And not all construction equipment is used out in the open. If this equipment is used in an enclosed space, federal and even state regulations come to play. You’ll need ample ventilation, which adds to operational costs, as well as suffering the noise level and discomfort for both operators and individuals using the building.
Battery-operated construction equipment generates no fumes. This gives it the unique advantage of easily entering and working in enclosed and even occupied spaces. Less preparation, less obstruction of the building’s intended use, and the construction equipment even meets OSHA standards for indoor construction work.
A different way of thinking
There’s a final benefit to battery-powered construction equipment that has less to do with operational cost containment, and more to do with containing the environmental impact. These alternatives to fossil fuel-burning equipment use renewable energy.
So not only is it safer for people to use, it’s better for our environment. A switch to battery-powered construction equipment has no downsides. It’s safer, cleaner, cheaper, and ecologically responsible – and it is definitively the future of construction.
Our mission at Triple E Equipment is to give companies safer and more energy efficient options for construction and demolition. It’s a forward thinking approach that offers solutions to problems across the board. Cost efficiency and lower fuel expenses are probably some of your biggest concerns. We’re pleased to match that up with a solution for several other common construction issues – including safety and maintenance – while providing a product that can actually do more jobs, in more settings than traditional construction equipment.
