Does energy recovery on the boom contribute to a longer-term use of an electric excavator? Van der Spek Vianen and GMB will test it in practice on a new electric Hyundai HX260ALE, which is factory equipped with a new EPFC system with an electronically proportionally controlled main pump for hydraulics.

The hybrid system of energy recovery on the hydraulics is not new. Van der Spek Vianen has often used the French eco-nergy system, but on conventional diesels. The principle of this is that the boom builds up pressure in a nitrogen-filled cylinder when it is lowered. This does not cost any energy because gravity does its job. The high pressure in the nitrogen cylinder is then reused when lifting the boom. It is already the sixth time that Van der Spek has installed this hybrid system for GMB. Several manufacturers also apply such systems, with lowering or with the swinging of the boom.

Fuel economy

The exact fuel savings of the system are difficult to demonstrate because conditions are never comparable, says Arjan Uittenbogaard of Van der Spek Vianen. “We did measure at companies with three Hyundai HX300 machines that were used for crushers. Without the system, consumption was 20 liters per hour. In one hybrid it was just over 13 litres per hour and in the other 15 litres per hour. But the crane deployment and working method was also slightly different there.’

Faster lifting

Where fuel savings are difficult to measure, it is demonstrable that the system provides additional energy gains. Initially, this results in a high speed when lifting the boom. ‘This allows you to work faster. Then you can do the same with a 30-tonner as with a regular 35-tonner. If you want to properly determine the fuel gain and efficiency, you should not look at the consumption per hour, but at the consumption per m3.’

Electronic pump control

In the new electric Hyundai HX260ALE that Van der Spek had converted for GMB by UMS, that ‘problem’ could easily be solved. Hyundai’s new machines are equipped with an EPFC system, which electronically controls the main pump of the hydraulics and has power and fine mode control capabilities. This makes it easy to adjust the speed of lifting the boom by the hybrid system. It is now adjusted in such a way that it is the same as a conventional machine. As a result, the profit from the hybrid system goes entirely to energy savings, while the efficiency and performance of the machine remain the same.

Full day running

This is important for a battery-powered machine because its usability mainly depends on the number of hours that the machine can run in a day. With three battery packs of 130 kW, a machine can in principle run for eight hours, but not if, for example, it has to break up heavy clay all day. A larger battery pack is of course possible, but the costs are considerably higher than a standard battery pack and the weight also increases as a result. Both are undesirable and so Van der Spek and GMB started looking for other solutions.

GMB already has two electric Hyundai excavators running. The third machine thus gets the hybrid system of energy recovery.

Less space

Installing this system on an electric machine required a slightly different approach than on a conventional diesel machine. Because of the battery pack, there is less space on the back of the machine to place the required cylinder. That is why an extra slim and long piston accumulator has now been chosen.

Optimal cooperation

The hybrid system can also be switched off. In practice, however, train drivers do not do that, uittenbogaard knows. And with the new EPFC system, that should no longer be necessary at all. The hybrid system and the pump now work optimally together during lifting, so that the system even has advantages when finishing.

Urban Mobility Systems (UMS) in Oss is an engineering company that enables emission-free construction equipment and mobility solutions. In a few years, the company has grown enormously and in the coming years the company will grow much larger, it is expected. That is why many new people are being sought by the most pleasant employer in the Netherlands’ to make that growth possible.

UMS was founded in 2016 by Lars Kool, and rarely has a company owner been so enthusiastic about his company, his product, and his employees: “I just want to show that we have the coolest company in the Netherlands here, where the best people walk around. I am so proud of our team of 60 people who work here. I have people who were at a car dealership for thirty years, they now feel young again. I have mechanics here who worked for another boss for 17 years, and who now work with so much passion and enthusiasm. My employees come from half of the Netherlands to work here. Sometimes they even take their children with them, because they do their work with so much passion and are proud of it.”

Lars Kool is originally a car mechanic and electrical engineer himself and is actually a few years ahead of the rest of the world: “I have been doing this work for a long time, and previously was always hired by companies that had problems, to help them switch to electric. But in 2015, I said to my wife, I’m done with it. They don’t listen, and they don’t share my vision. Then I started for myself, with two mechanics on the Rijnstraat in Oss. However, that grew so fast that within a few months we moved to the Galliersweg. And now we are going to expand again, with a new factory in Arnhem. We would like to add 80 new employees, it is going so well, and this work is so important for the future.”

Energy transition

UMS contributes to the acceleration of the energy transition through qualitative, reliable, scalable and economically feasible solutions. “We build and develop fully electric powertrains for cranes, trucks, shovels and much more. But we don’t just build; We also train inspection bodies, schools and mechanics for the new economy. That is my vision. Because the sooner I can share my knowledge, the sooner the energy transition will go to electric. Look, we are really not going to achieve 2030 with the energy transition, but there will come a time when we will all drive electric.”

Sharing knowledge

The company on the Galliërsweg wants to share knowledge in the field of working safely with high voltage machines in Oss, and far beyond, and therefore also works closely with technical secondary education and higher education trainers such as ROCs and the HAN University of Applied Sciences. “We have 19 ROC schools attached to us. Do you know how cool I think it is to teach teachers, to share my knowledge with them and to have the students here? The are always looking forward to it!.”

Innovation Award

UMS works closely with companies such as Hyundai, DAF, Liebherr and Bobcat: “We are located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Austria, Sweden, United Kingdom. But also in Utrecht; those City Hubs, they are ours, we have developed them. We have been chosen as one of the CES 2022 Innovation Award winners with the theme ‘tech solutions for a responsible future’. UMS is the most innovative company in Europe. We’re on the Wall of Fame in Las Vegas, at one of the biggest shows in the world, CES. We are an accessible organization and young and old are all mix up here and work here with great pleasure.”

Ed van Wel, workshop manager

Indeed, a tour of the company shows that the now 60 employees work on the product with great pleasure and passion. One of them is Ed van Wel (57), workshop manager. He has only been working at UMS in Oss since the beginning of this year, after having worked elsewhere for 30 years: “I was approached by colleagues who really liked it here and thought it was something for me. They were right. The motivation, commitment and drive that you find here is very contagious. You have everything in-house here, from mechanical to software. Everything is conceived and executed here. If you are looking for work, it is very important that you like the work and the place and the team. The fact that we are so innovative here, that is the best thing we do here. If technology is your thing, you have to be here.”

The Subsidy Scheme for Clean and Emission-Free Construction Equipment (SSEB) aims to reduce nitrogen emissions from construction equipment, including construction equipment, auxiliary functions, construction vehicles and seagoing construction vessels. The aim is to contribute to reducing nitrogen emissions in the construction sector. The SSEB is divided into three parts: SSEB Procurement, SSEB Retrofit and SSEB Innovation. The subsidy budget in 2023 within the SSEB purchase subsidy is € 36 million.

From 9 May 2023 you can apply for a subsidy again. The scheme runs from 9 May 2022 to 31 December 2026 and focuses on construction companies that own or rent construction equipment, auxiliary functions and construction vehicles. The subsidy can be applied for for several parts and the maximum subsidy amount per construction machine is € 300,000.

With the SEBB scheme, building contractors are encouraged to invest in emission-free construction equipment. This contributes to a cleaner air and healthier environment. In addition, the scheme stimulates the growth of the market for emission-free construction equipment.

In order to be eligible for a subsidy, building contractors must meet certain conditions. For example, the construction equipment must be emission-free and meet the requirements in terms of energy efficiency. The equipment must also be used in the Netherlands and must not have been used earlier than the date on which the regulation came into force. The amount of the subsidy depends on the type of construction equipment and can amount to 40% of the purchase costs.

If a company purchases (buys or leases) new emission-free construction equipment, it may be eligible for the SSEB Purchase. SSEB Purchasing encourages the purchase of new emission-free construction equipment, while SSEB Retrofit is aimed at re-motorizing existing construction equipment to make them emission-free. Per calendar year, a company or group of companies can receive a maximum of €1 million in subsidy for SSEB Acquisition and/or SSEB Retrofit together.

The scheme is an important step in making the construction sector more sustainable. The use of emission-free construction equipment not only reduces nitrogen emissions, but also reduces noise and CO2 emissions. In addition, the scheme contributes to the development of new, sustainable technologies and to a future-proof construction sector.

An electrically powered Hyundai HX85A E, built by Urban Mobility Systems and supplied by Van der Spek Vianen, was immediately used in the renovation of the monumental Stenendijk between Hasselt and Zwolle.

The 1.3 kilometer long Stenendijk near Hasselt in Overijssel is a national monument of more than five hundred years old. The flood defence, which was once built as protection against the Zuiderzee, is currently being renovated and this is completely emission-free.

The Hyundai weighs more than 10 tons and has a 130 kWh battery with which the machine can work for 6 to 8 hours before it needs to be recharged. In addition to the Hyundai HX85A E, there is also an electrically driven tractor from Van Reel active at work.

In July of 2022, the project of the Flood Protection Programme (HWBP) started. The renovation of the last masonry dike in the Netherlands is a technical tour de force involving the water board and a combination of contractors. Both buildings and natural values are taken into account, because the historic dike borders a Natura 2000 area.

Although emission-free working was not mandatory for client Drents Overijsselse Delta (WDODelta), a version with only electric machines was chosen. Of course, this is not entirely new: earlier this year, for example, a completely emission-free renovation of Amsterdam’s Noorderpark was completed and an emission-free cycle path was built in Arnhem.

Van Reel Groep is a sustainable family business and consists of an earthmoving company, a green recycling with locations in Rouveen and Hardenberg, a contracting company in Groen & Grond, weg- en waterbouw and is a specialist with swamp cranes in maintenance of nature reserves with poorly accessible soil. They mainly work together with municipalities, water boards and project developers. The environmentally conscious entrepreneurship of the Van Reel Group fits perfectly with the investment in the new electrically powered Hyundai HX85A E.

Van der Spek Vianen recently delivered a brand new, completely emission-free Hyundai HX85A E midi excavator with electric drive to Van Aalsburg. The machine was built by Urban Mobility Systems. The machine weighs 10 tons and is equipped with a 130 kWh battery, which allows it to run for up to 6 hours before it needs to be recharged.

Charging can be easily carried out using a 32Amp or 63Amp plug. Van Aalsburg has a mobile EnergyHub that is charged using wind and solar energy, allowing the new Hyundai to be charged with green electricity.

Thanks to the adjustable boom, the machine can be used in various ways and the work tools can easily be brought into the desired position. In addition, the machine has various hydraulic connections with which the work tools can be connected without any problems. The advanced loadsensing hydraulic system has an energy-saving regeneration system on the lifting and articulated cylinders, allowing the machine to work optimally with the lowest possible energy consumption.

Van Aalsburg is a special willow wood trade where the craft is passed on from father to son(s). The company has grown into a dynamic family business that operates internationally under the leadership of six brothers. The company has 150 hectares of private land on which they grow their own products, which are used for their work.

Environmentally conscious entrepreneurship is very important to Van Aalsburg and the investment in the new electrically powered Hyundai HX85A E fits in perfectly with that.

The webinar ‘Tackling the nitrogen problem in construction with prefab and zero emission logistics’, organized by 54events, was held on 12 December. In this webinar Lars Kool, CEO/ CTO Urban Mobility Systems, spoke about solutions that are already available for logistics and transport to tackle the nitrogen problem.

The Council of State recently ruled that nitrogen released during construction must also be included in emission calculations. The consequences of this ruling are of great concern to construction companies, municipalities and clients. Because with this ruling, the building exemption is off the table and the nitrogen problem in construction is back again. Stakeholders will have to come up with real solutions this time, otherwise there is a risk of a structural setback for the entire sector.

Lars Kool
CEO/ CTO, Urban Mobility Systems

About the solutions that exist from zero emission logistics and transport! A preview in that context is this post on rijksoverheid.nl.

Noah Baars
Programme Manager Clean and Emission-Free Construction (SEB), Central Government Real Estate Agency

About the Clean and Emission-Free Building (SEB) programme, the government roadmap and the choices made by the Government Buildings Agency.

Hidde Proost
Commercial Director, Startblock

About how prefabricated, modular and conceptual construction offer a solution to the nitrogen problem. See also this post on startblock.nl.

Lars Zwart
Architect I Partner, CRKL architects

About the role of architects at the beginning of a project: material choices… and think first to prevent nitrogen problems.

More zero emission machines in construction. From next spring on, the construction industry will once again be able to buy emission-free construction equipment, such as excavators and pile drivers, with a subsidy. They can also receive a subsidy for the conversion or adaptation of their equipment from diesel to hydrogen or electric. This is good in the fight against the nitrogen problems that sometimes bring construction to a standstill. And for our health and the environment. The government is allocating a total of 270 million euros for this until 2030.

Tackling the nitrogen problem

The government wants construction to reduce nitrogen by 60% and reduce CO2 emissions by 0.4 megatonnes by 2030, as laid down in the Nitrogen Approach and the Climate Agreement. This subsidy scheme contributes to this. Almost all nitrogen emissions from construction come from the use of construction vehicles and machines on the construction site. These machines and construction vehicles, of which there are an estimated eighty thousand in the Netherlands, often run on diesel all day, and in addition to nitrogen, also emit particulate matter and greenhouse gases.

Entrepreneurs can recover up to 40% of the additional costs upon purchase. The government wants to provide extra support to SMEs, which is why they can receive up to 50% subsidy. This involves the purchase of new machines and construction vehicles, for example with a battery or on hydrogen. Existing equipment can also be tackled with a subsidy. Think of the conversion from diesel to electric, or the installation of a catalyst that collects substances. A good catalyst can reduce nitrogen emissions by more than 80%. This option is also available for large seagoing construction vessels.

Subsidies are also available for the innovation and development of new techniques. For example, for new heavy emission-free machines such as cranes and large trucks, with the corresponding new loading or refuelling solutions on the construction site.

Specifically for construction

The government believes it is important that the construction industry is given the opportunity to switch to clean. In this way the construction of houses and construction and maintenance of roads and railways can continue. Therefore, this scheme is specifically designed for equipment used in construction. In 2022 there are 20 million euros available. Builders can also request charging facilities, such as battery containers for the construction site. There is a maximum amount per company and application. Builders must also meet a number of conditions, for example to prevent fraud and rapid resale.

“I think it is important that the construction and infrastructure sector contributes to the objectives of the Climate Agreement and therefore accelerates the transition to zero emission mobile tools /(construction) equipment,” emphasizes Maxime Verhagen, chairman of Bouwend Nederland. “That is why Bouwend Nederland, BMWT and CUMELA are working together with the government on a roadmap that points the way to a completely clean construction.”

Cleaner air

The money for this scheme for construction comes from the broad package of nitrogen measures, which the cabinet announced earlier. The government is also taking numerous measures to help entrepreneurs switch to cleaner alternatives. The knife often cuts on two sides. They help reduce nitrogen problems for building contractors. And they are necessary for nature, clean air and the climate.

For example, there is already a subsidy scheme for electric vans for entrepreneurs, and there will also be a scheme for emission-free trucks in the short term.

The discussion around construction projects and nitrogen emissions prompted Omroep Gelderland to come and look at the use of electrical equipment in construction at the Gorinchem-Waardeburg dike reinforcement project.

Gerard van der Veer and Gerrit Jan van de Pol of GMB talk in the video about the electric 30-tonne Hyundai HX260 excavator that is used there and that was built by Urban Mobility Systems.

Last Wednesday 5 November, the Council of State ruled that the so-called building exemption is not legally tenable. If a construction project leads to nitrogen precipitation in a vulnerable nature reserve, a nature permit is now required again. The ruling will have consequences for the entire construction sector because a nitrogen calculation must be made for each project.

The use of electric construction equipment ensures a significant nitrogen reduction on construction projects. It is good for the climate, it provides better workplaces for employees and less nuisance for the environment. This not only concerns nitrogen but also CO2 emissions and particulate matter emissions.