Customer benefits of hybrid booms

As the regulation of carbon emissions continues, many equipment manufacturers are investing in improving the environmental performance of their products. Within the access equipment market there is a particular focus on hybrid-electric construction equipment, like booms.

Here we explore what hybrid booms are, what hybrid booms can do, and what access hire equipment customers can gain from making the more sustainable hybrid choice.

Introducing: hybrid booms

Hybrid booms are boom lifts that can be powered by both fuel and electricity. They allow operators to switch between powering equipment with a diesel-powered generator, and with electricity stored in lithium-ion or large standard batteries – depending on the physical demands of the job and the environment they are working in.

In the early days of hybrid technology, hybrid booms performed more like electric booms with diesel added on – but thankfully hybrid technology has come a long way. Today, hybrid booms are extremely efficient to operate, they produce far fewer emissions and their performance is no longer inferior to diesel or electric powered machines.

What’s in it for customers – why choose hybrid?

The uptake of hybrid equipment hasn’t been particularly rapid in the Australian construction industry to date. But the popularity of hybrid will soar as technology continues to improve, emission and noise reduction targets loom closer, and as customers continue to realise the benefits of hybrid equipment in driving sustainability and efficiency.

Intuitive and flexible

The hybrid booms of today are far more sophisticated and robust than some of the earlier models. Modern hybrids provide a competitive alternative to standalone diesel or electric boom – switching intelligently between the two fuel sources for optimal performance in all terrains and environments. Hybrid technology is also creating more flexible machines that are optimised for indoor and outdoor use across a range of different applications.

Energy efficiency

Although hybrid access equipment can attract a slightly higher rental price, the fuel consumption of larger diesel booms is also costly, levelling the playing field. With the option to switch between diesel and electric without sacrificing performance, cost becomes less of an issue.

According to global aerial work platform manufacturer, Haulotte, considerable fuel savings are achievable through hybrid booms. Haulotte’s award-winning “Stop Emission System” also supports energy efficiency by automatically switching engines off after 90 seconds of idle activity – reducing noise pollution, improving operator comfort and cutting carbon emissions.

Hassle-free maintenance

While some of the early hybrid booms were clunky and hard to fix, the diagnostic capability of today’s hybrid is much better. The ability to fault-find on the spot speeds up maintenance and allows better access to hybrid equipment fleets. Original equipment manufacturers can also dial in remotely and troubleshoot issues on some machines – something you wouldn’t dream of doing with a diesel.

Enhanced productivity and performance

As hybrid technology improves, so does the performance that hybrid customers can expect to achieve. Here are some of the innovative features driving productivity for boom lift customers:

• For more grunt, some hybrid booms allow both fuel sources to be used simultaneously, temporarily boosting performance.
• Higher-capacity batteries on hybrid booms considerably extend electric operating times, while automatic charging allows continuous operation on some hybrid booms.
• More efficient and intuitive maintenance reduces equipment downtime and enhances productivity for many customers.
• The cleaner and quieter operation of hybrid booms also offers customers a good alternative to traditional diesel booms for indoor or underground use.

Raising the sustainability agenda

Being a relatively large producer of emissions, the construction industry has an important role to play in pushing the sustainability agenda forward.

As part of an ongoing commitment to its customers and to sustainability, Coates fleet of hybrid access equipment has grown steadily in recent years. Today, customers can more easily choose between diesel, electric and hybrid access equipment. Coates will continue to invest in sustainable and high performing access equipment to deliver these benefits to customers and the environment.

For all your access equipment needs reach out to Coates today – or find your local branch.