Almost since the advent of the internal combustion engine, vehicles that include the aerial bucket truck have been equipped with massive diesel motors. For nearly a century (1923), the diesel engine has been the mechanism of choice for trucks simply because it delivered the power needed to move heavy loads and it consumed less fuel than a gasoline version of the same displacement.
Even today, diesel engines still dominate our roads along with the gasoline variety. The question is: how long will this trend continue? These days, more efficient engine designs are continually being designed and tested as a possible solution to increasing fuel costs. At the same time, scientists and car designers are working on advanced electric engines that are equally powerful minus the carbon dioxide emission problem.
Advances and new designs have not been limited to passenger vehicles. As an example, look at the electric and diesel bucket trucks. Since the development of the aerial bucket truck, it has been solely powered by a diesel engine. Now with rising fuel costs over the past few decades, design plans are being redrawn and the electric motor is being added to the equation in hopes of reducing the cost of operating the aerial bucket truck.
Diesel Version
The boom lift portion of the aerial bucket truck is known for its reliability and longevity. This type of boom can operate for an entire day nonstop as long as there is fuel to power its movements. Despite the great reputation it carries, there are still some negative aspects to consider.
For one, this elevating portion of the bucket truck operates on its own for long periods of time which requires that the motor keep running to power the hydraulic system, which in turn burns fuel as it operates. This arrangement isn’t the best alternative with soaring fuel costs that cause similar increases in the total operating costs for the aerial bucket truck.
These engines also produce considerable noise during operation. Even with the exhaust muffled, the noise level produced by them is still considerably high and can interfere with oral communication as well as cause hearing loss. For this reason, operators and workers using the lifting apparatus of this vehicle have to wear well-insulated headphone devices and communicate with hand gestures.
Electric Version
Small-scale electrically-powered booms have been around for some time and have frequently been used for indoor operations. Usage on bucket trucks for the lifting device only is a fairly new design and is referred to as a hybrid bucket truck. The use of an electric motor to power the hydraulic system as an addition to the diesel engine that powers the movement of the bucket truck has gone a long way in reducing the consumption of fuel and the overall cost of operating the entire vehicle.
Of course, the most effective use of the stand-alone electric-powered lift is indoors where there is a power outlet available. They operate smoothly and quietly and can produce just the right amount of power to lift the load. The only downside about this version of the lift is that it can only be used in areas where there is an available source of power. Although they come with a back-up power supply, current battery technology can only hold enough a charge for a limited amount of time.
The same technology currently applies with hybrid aerial bucket trucks. When the electric motor is running to power the hydraulic system, the lift operates with a great deal less noise and effectively reduces the vehicle’s fuel consumption. The only downside of the hybrid design is that the charge stored inside the batteries is limited to a certain amount of time and would still need to recharge at some point. So the vehicle has to switch between the diesel engine and the electric motor in order to power the vehicle’s hydraulic system, which still means some fuel is being consumed, just not as much as without the electric engine.
Future Considerations
Both the diesel and electric boom lifts are well equipped to do the job. Because of the two different energy sources, there is an anticipated variance in their performance. For tasks that require long operating hours, a diesel-powered lift is currently more desirable since electrically-powered lifts don’t have the battery life required for long operations. On the other hand, for quiet operation and low operating costs, the electrically-powered lift is the equipment for the job.
Future technological advancements are bound to include the design and production of a battery that can hold a charge and therefore operate longer than what the current versions can do. In the meantime, this hybrid commercial vehicle is still a very good consideration for many applications. Any business owner will see a savings in fuel costs, so consider this option for when looking for an aerial bucket truck!
Christopher Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. If you are interested in learning more about Aerial Bucket Trucks, go to the link shown here.
