Charged-Up

(Diesel Technology Forum) ... Here’s a short quiz: Thinking about high-tech advancements like autonomous operation, new and renewable fuels, electrified components, hybrid, connected, smart, and efficient technologies – which sector most comes to mind, passenger cars or the mining sector? If you guessed passenger vehicles, you’re not alone, but as it turns out all of those innovations mentioned actually have taken place in the mining sector. And believe it or not, many, like autonomous vehicles, have been in place in that sector for d-e-c-a-d-e-s. Innovation, progress and solutions to some of our biggest challenges, like climate change, come in many shapes and sizes as well as in some unexpected places.

These and other topics have been among the advancements in the marine, rail, construction and power generation sectors covered in the Beyond the Highway Series of virtual events this past year. The premise for this educational series was basic: every day the media churns out a multitude of announcements of new developments in batteries, electric vehicles or new start-ups with future orders for new fuels for commercial vehicles. While these may be transformative for the highway sector, the innovations in sectors beyond the highway in tackling climate change are no less impressive.

In the marine sector innovation is underway for near-zero emissions diesel powered marine engines that use the latest and most efficient diesel engines to power workboats, commercial fishing vessels and barges, while exploring alternative fuels and technologies as well.

In the construction sector, off-road equipment makers are building on their success in achieving near zero emissions diesel machines. Smart and connected construction technology has the potential to slash 46 percent of project time while using 37 percent less energy to build roads, resulting in cost savings and fewer greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Meanwhile renewable biodiesel fuels can transform emissions of an entire fleet of diesel vehicles overnight.

Railroad locomotive engine suppliers are on-track to deliver more efficient and powerful diesel locomotives to power freight and passenger rail than ever before, along with new potential for other fuels like hydrogen to play a role in the future.

Generator manufacturers are charged up about the growing demand for efficient and reliable backup power systems powered mostly by diesel that prevent economic loss and preserve public health and safety by ensuring reliable electrical power supply. Essentially an insurance policy where diesel power is the underwriter, innovation and new options in the future might also come from hydrogen powered internal combustion engines.

And we’re planting the seed now – join us December 16 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm (ET) for a look at the trends and innovations down on today’s farm. What are the trends in farms in the U.S.? What kinds of equipment are farmers looking for to produce more crops (“yield”) using fewer inputs? How can they reduce the GHG emissions from their farming practices and still feed a growing world? Tune in December 16 and you can harvest all the latest insights and perspective from industry leaders John Deere, Cummins and Tenneco about where we are today and what is in store for the ag sector in the future. Learn more and register here.

Take a look at the big picture of progress being made to reduce energy consumption and lower emissions beyond the highway. You’ll see why we’re charged up, on-track, well underway and soon ready to harvest more progress on our journey to the future. READ MORE