In-depth analysis: Emissions escalation in the construction machinery industry was dragged back

High engine costs, poor fuel quality———

Compared with the efforts and achievements of passenger cars to reduce carbon emissions, construction machinery seems to be climbing soft sands under the scorching sun. In the Chinese market, construction machinery and transport vehicles are still implementing the second-stage limit equivalent to Euro 2 emission standards. According to Jun Jun, president of the China Construction Machinery Industry Association, engine cost and oil quality directly constrain the upgrading of emission standards; improving the operator's skill level is a more realistic solution.

Yan Jun said that if the construction machinery implements the third-stage limit standard, the engine technology upgrade will drive up the purchase cost, and the increase rate can reach 30%. If buyers are not willing to "pay the bill," manufacturers can only plead for sales to increase enough to offset costs. In addition, the sulfur content of commercial oils is high, and it is difficult to meet the requirements for the use of common-rail diesel engines. It may even cause the sensor to “shock”.

In order to meet emission standards, engine manufacturers have selected exhaust gas recirculation + particulate filtration, selective catalytic reduction, the former has little impact on users, but the fuel consumption is higher; the latter can meet stringent environmental regulations, but requires additional installation equipment. According to industry insiders, if the sulfur content of domestic fuel oil falls rapidly, China’s construction machinery manufacturing may overcome the existing technology and cost barriers and achieve overtaking of curves.

It is reported that construction machinery manufacturers are striving to promote energy conservation and emission reduction in many directions including product design, material selection, and lightweighting. Among them, improving the operator's operating skills can also help reduce fuel consumption. In 2010, China Machinery Engineering Industry Association teamed up with Volvo Construction Equipment Engineering (China) Co., Ltd. to launch the Volvo Cup National Excavator Operator Green Fuel Saving Challenge. 13,000 operators passed the fuel-saving driving skills training, among which the best Improve work efficiency by 25%, working 2 to 3 liters per hour.

At present, China has more than 1 million units of construction equipment, but its energy efficiency is only 26.9% of the United States and 11.5% of Japan. Luo Dong, president of Volvo Construction Equipment China, said that if the operator uses an energy-saving way to drive, fuel consumption can be reduced by at least 5%, the entire industry can thus save 130,000 tons of fuel per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 297,000 tons.

The data show that the United States has implemented Tier4 transition phase emission standards at the beginning of this year; the EU is implementing Phase III B emission standards and the Tier 4 emission standards have been implemented in 2014. China's construction machinery and transport vehicle emissions are currently implementing the second-stage limit standard. The standard has been implemented since July 1, 2004 and has been in use for nearly 8 years.