Volvo CE Unveils Electric Compact Wheel Loader Concept
The title of this post is the same as that of this Volvo CE press release.
This is the introduction.
Volvo Construction Equipment demonstrated the LX02 electric compact wheel loader at the Volvo Group Innovation Summit in Berlin. The prototype machine delivers zero emissions, significantly lower noise levels, improved efficiency and reduced operational costs.
I suggest that you read the press release, as it says a lot for Volvo’s plans for carbon, pollution and noise-free construction.
Batteries Come Of Age In Railway Construction
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Rail Engineer.
It is very much a must-read article on the subject of constructing and repairing railways in a zero-carbon manner.
These are some extra comments of mine!
Smaller And Lighter First
This is a paragraph from the article.
Smaller and lighter equipment is getting the treatment first – the batteries and motors can be smaller. Volvo Construction Equipment has already supplied its first electric compact loader, to a customer in Germany.
Volvo seems to be busy creating electric loaders.
Size Appears To Be No Limit
This extract shows how a large dump truck can go electric.
If a 25-tonne excavator is not big enough, how about a Komatsu HD605-7 off-highway truck, which weighs 51 tonnes unladen and has a payload of 63 tonnes? Kuhn Switzerland, working with Lithium Storage and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), has converted this 111-tonne gross vehicle weight monster into an electric vehicle.
Out came the 23-litre, 778hp (578kW) diesel engine and in went a synchronous electric motor rated at 789hp (588kW) electric motors. An additional 120kW motor is fitted just to power the hydraulic systems. The battery was a challenge – the four large packs have a combined rating of 700kWh and weigh 4.5 tonnes.
Do you get much bigger than 111 tonne, nearly 600 kW and a 700 kWh battery pack?
Regenerative Braking
The article also says that in some applications, vehicles go up and down a route and can charge the batteries using regenerative braking on the downhill run. In one application batteries only need charging every three days.
Rail Application Of Off-Road Equipment
The article says this.
While an eDumper may be too large to use on the railway, it does show what can now be done. Between JCB’s mini-excavator and eMining’s dump truck, there is room to battery-power almost any item used on the railway today.
I would suspect that there are a lot of companies, including giants like Caterpillar, JCB, Komatsu. Volvo and others working to produce electric versions of their successful products.
What About The Workers
The article says this.
These new machines are only the tip of the ‘electric’ iceberg. As pressure mounts to cut carbon emissions and to protect workers from harmful fumes, there will be more to come.
Health and safety will lead to a big push towards electric, as electric vehicles are pollution, carbon and fume-free, with a substantial noise reduction.
Hydrogen Will Have A Part To Play
This statement is from the Wikipedia entry for ITM Power.
In March 2015 JCB made a strategic investment of £4.9M in ITM Power.
Why would a construction equipment company invest in a company, that makes equipment that generates hydrogen to power vehicles?
- It is known, that the Bamford heir has purchased Wrightbus and intend to make hydrogen-powered buses for the world.
- JCB have built their own diesel engines, so are they building their own hydrogen engine?
- JCB make tractors and I believe a hydrogen-powered tractor may be more than a niche market.
- Is it possible to build a hydrogen-powered JCB?
Buy any of these products and you get a gas station in the price.
To deliver hydrogen, all you need to do is connect it to the water and electricity mains and switch on.
If you’re using it to power rail or site construction equipment, the gas station could be on wheels, so it can be moved from site to site.
Conclusion
This is the writer’s conclusion.
It seems that ‘battery is the new diesel’. It will be fascinating to see how this sector develops over the next few years.
I don’t disagree, but would add, that I feel that JCB are the elephant in this room!
Isis Issues Coronavirus Travel Advice: Terrorists Should Avoid Europe
The title of this cost is the same as this article on the Sunday Times.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The Isis terrorist group is steering clear of Europe because of the coronavirus. Having previously urged its supporters to attack European cities, the group is now advising members to “stay away from the land of the epidemic” in case they become infected.
I think on balance, this could be a good thing, given that Iran doesn’t seem to be very successful in controlling the coronavirus.
Sadiq Khan Scraps Tube Fare Freeze In Mayoral Election Pledge To Only Freeze Bus Fares
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on ITV.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Sadiq Khan has announced that if re-elected as Mayor of London, he’ll freeze bus fares for the next four years and ensure any other TfL fare rises are lower than the rate of inflation.
When I first heard of Sadiq Khan’s fare freeze for the 2016 Mayor of London election, I considered it a blatant electoral bribe, as the finances just didn’t add up.
I’m not sure, who I will be voting for next year, but it will be a North London candidate.
Recently, there have been cuts to buses in North and Central London, but few, that I can ascertain in the South of the City. Could this be because, if a Mayor cuts buses or any other services in their area, they get incessant pestering, as they go about their business? So do Mayor’s cut, where they are not instantly recognised?
Budget 2020: Egyptian Temple In Leeds Could Be Surprise Beneficiary Of Rishi Sunak’s Yorkshire Deal
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on iNews.
This is the introductory paragraph.
An iconic Victorian flax mill designed to look like an Egyptian temple could be the unexpected beneficiary of Rishi Sunak’s Budget windfall amid a proposal to turn it into a northern arm of the UK’s national library.
Sunak is contributing twenty-five million. to the conversion of the Grade One-Listed Temple Works.
Conclusion
I wondered where he would use some of the Government’s money in Yorkshire and this would appear to be where he has!
It is my belief, that this is the sort of bold plan we need to execute in this country!
COV-19 Isn’t Good For Chuggers
Outside Marks & Spencer on Dalston Kingsland Road this morning, I was accosted by a chugger.
I told him that because of the coronavirus, that I wouldn’t be stopping.
He gave a knowing look and allowed me to walk on!
He didn’t look pleased and I suspect, I wasn’t the first to give him that excuse.
EU Announces ‘Clean Hydrogen Alliance’ For Launch In The Summer
The total of this post is the same as this article on Euractiv.
The title is probably fairly clear, but the article is well worth a read.
Another Space To Be Filled
This Google Map shows the City of London North of Moorgate station.
Note the crossroads, where South Place goes East from the A501, which has LEON and Boots on the West side and Barclays Bank on the East.
The South-East corner of the crossroads has been redeveloped and now it the time for the North-West corner to be redeveloped.
The pictures show that the site has been cleared.
- At appears that the site will be a development called 20 Ropemaker Street.
- It will be up to 27 stories high.
- It will be 457,000 square feet of offices.
- There will be retail premises along Finsbury Pavement opposite Gap and Marks & Spencer.
- The building will be the new London headquarters for Linklakers LLP.
There are also hints on the Internet, that the main entrance will be opposite the entrance for Moorgate station, with all its connections to the following.
Circle Line
- Crossrail
- Hammersmith & City Line
- Metropolitan Line
- Northern Line
- Northern City Line
It looks to me that the developers are taking advantage of the transport developments.
‘World-First’ As Bunhill 2 Launches Using Tube Heat To Warm 1,350 Homes
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the Islington Gazette.
This is the introductory paragraph.
A new energy centre using heat from Northern Line Tube tunnels can now provide warmth and hot water to 1,350 Islington homes.
These are some of my pictures of the centre.
If you want to go and see the Bunhill 2 Centre, walk down City Road from the Angel.
Offshore Wind to Hydrogen Project Secures GBP 7.5 Million Funding
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Offshore Wind.
This is the first two paragraphs.
The next phase of Gigastack, a renewable hydrogen project, has secured GBP 7.5 million funding as part of the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Hydrogen Supply Competition.
The Gigastack project, led by ITM Power, Ørsted, Phillips 66 Limited, and Element Energy, will show how renewable hydrogen derived from offshore wind can support the UK’s 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emission target.
Points from the article.
- A 100 MW system will be designed.
- Modules with a capacity of 20 MW will be used.
- Energy will be delivered directly from Ørsted’s Hornsea Two wind farm.
- Some of the hydrogen produced will be used in Phillips 66 Humber Refinery.
- ITM Power will trial their new electolyser and automatic manufacturing.
This seems an ambitious project.
