LEGAL

Looking to the alternative fuel source

The haulage customer, if sufficiently interested, can require vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cell, electricity, or diesel engines, but at the present time the preferred fuel is likely to be diesel. Commercial vehicle manufacturers continue to try to improve the specifications of the vehicles they produce, improvements which may include the load carrying capacity, or the performance of the engine.

The haulier, when choosing the vehicle to buy for his/her fleet will certainly be concerned with the load carrying capacity and the fuel consumption figures. But choosing the fuel is a far more complex question and much more difficult to answer. In the first instance the engine in the vehicle must match the fuel, and changing the engines may be costly, and, if it is decided to change the engines, will the companies’ technicians need retraining? It is still very early in the development stage of these new engines and it may well be too soon for a haulier to make any decision.

The proposed new and alternative fuels, be it hydrogen or electricity, come with their own problems - in the context of the haulage industry at least. It is easy to forget that electricity needs to be made, and, however many wind-farms may be built there is likely to be a shortage. There is always the use of nuclear energy as a fallback but it is doubtful that the global public will accept a large number of nuclear power stations. Additionally, vehicles using electric power will need sufficient charging points. Already owners of electricity powered cars waiting at supermarket charging stations may have a wait of 15 minutes or more whilst the vehicle in front completes its charge.

Hydrogen presents problems both of handling and storage. The immediate problem would be the need to create roadside re-fuelling facilities designed to handle gas on the roads that are likely to be used. Additionally, the gas powered vehicles of course will need safe gas tight tanks to hold sufficient fuel. At the end of the day, we must also remember that hydrogen can be dangerous if it is not handled safely.

It is arguably time for the vehicle manufacturers to join together to support those who purchase their vehicles by persuading the public that, if they want to enjoy their present standard of living, the use of diesel fuel is a necessary evil even if the extreme toxicity of the exhaust fumes cannot be denied. Urgent research is being done into the possibility of changing the composition of diesel fuel so as to reduce the harmful effects of the exhaust emissions, the aim being to produce a product to ’Drop in’ a diesel tank which will have the effect of cleaning the fuel so that the exhaust fumes are harmless.

It seems logical that ‘Drop ins’ and the associated research would be advertised by the vehicle manufacturers, but the message must get to the public. It is the large heavy goods vehicle in the Main Street that causes most concern to the housewife regarding harmful emissions. Her supermarket may use an electric delivery vehicle which is both quiet and clean but the fact that the commercial vehicle in the streets may be at the start of a 600 km journey with a 25-tonne load is a matter that would not cross the mind of anyone on the footpath at that time.

We need the public to at least be aware of some of the problems that face our industry and the changes that may be necessary and, more importantly, not to think that any of the alternative fuels presently being considered will provide a miracle solution. For the moment diesel and ‘Drop-ins’ may be the best way forward.

Text: Jonathan Lawton – jonathan@fleet.ie

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