EDITORIAL: Combustion engines carry on in construction

A recent virtual panel discussion reminded me that we ought not forget the propulsion workhorse of our industries: the good ol' diesel engine. It's sometimes easy to forget in the avalanche of EV and fuel-cell developments - quite a few detailed in this very issue - that combustion engines will continue to power the majority of on- and off-highway vehicles at least for the next decade. To further improve ICE efficiency during this powertrain-diversification process, engineers and R&D departments still are plugging away (pardon the pun) at engine and fuel advancements.

“For most of the sectors of the construction industry, diesel is the technology of choice particularly for the largest construction machines and equipment,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, which hosted the virtual event with industry leaders. “Diesel is still evolving, and it will continue to do so in the future with even lower emissions and greater efficiency.”