The prices of gasoline and diesel are soaring and with them the costs of using construction vehicles and machines: saving is however possible provided that you use new technologies and respect scrupulous maintenance (engine, hydraulic system …) and train drivers. Here are some tips that we will focus on the fuel consumption of an excavator .
Fuel consumption by type of excavator
If talking about fuel consumption for a car is measured in liters per 100 kilometers, that of a construction excavator is measured in liters per hour... So, when you use a rental service for a construction vehicle or Whether we operate this same vehicle directly we quickly wonder how to reduce its consumption , even if the criterion of reliability remains essential. The price of energy for such a vehicle puts pressure on operating costs by 30%. So let's talk about operation, use, engine and power of an excavator.
Excavators from 50 to 100 tonnes
Excavators of 50 to 100 tonnes consume on average 40 to 80 liters of fuel per hour of operation. But technology and its progress today allow significant savings in GNR (non-road diesel) . Thus, the 100 ton excavator on Liebherr R980 SME range tracks, despite its weight, displays 51 L of fuel per hour. The hydraulic system is controlled by state-of-the-art electronics with sensors and details that ensure maximum efficiency. Upstream, driver commands are processed by a computer which optimizes the operation of the motors, pump and circuits. The cat 395 is not left out on this point and the machine is more productive than its predecessors.
In recent years, manufacturers have made efforts to develop more efficient engines and vehicles, which tends to reduce the consumption of excavators and other construction equipment, even on the smallest models.
Fuel consumption of a 20 ton excavator
The fuel consumption of a 20-ton excavator is on average around 15 liters per hour. However, some brands like Caterpillar and its cat 320 model promise up to 25% energy savings . Liebherr displays a 30% reduction, thanks to the database of an energy savings calculator (LiDAT system) which is very easy to use and which allows you to know the average consumption of the type of machine selected. We calculate your savings potential, whatever the model of your machine , because the base, constantly updated, includes all models.
Fuel consumption of a mini excavator
The fuel consumption of a mini excavator varies from 3 to 6 liters per hour for those equipped with thermal engines of around 25 kilowatts.
Like large excavator models, consumption varies depending on the speed at which you work and the difficulty of the tasks required.
Among Cat models, machines of this size offer up to 20% additional performance without losing energy, cabin air conditioning included.
We quickly understand that the choice of the brand, its models and the technological aspects can allow significant savings to be made. But there are also other good practices and complementary systems.
Save fuel on your construction vehicles!
Best practices for saving fuel
Saving fuel is not just a dream but can become a reality with some equipment, regular maintenance and advice on work efficiency.
- telematics and electronics today offer new possibilities that optimize vehicle productivity and guarantee significant savings : detection of any malfunction likely to cause the engine , load detection, “eco” mode, energy recovery system. lost energy...
- maintenance of public works equipment prevents fuel waste such as choosing the right tires, checking tire pressure , the condition of the chains, the pump, oil levels or even replacing parts defective thanks to the service offered by the brands.
- The organization of work is also an essential factor in reducing the consumption of your excavators : study of the locations and types of work to be carried out, time required and weather conditions. It is also important that drivers familiarize themselves with all the excavator equipment : choosing the appropriate accessory, using the “eco” mode or reducing the idling time which burns up to 5 liters of diesel per hour and which is the leading cause of energy waste ...
Choosing the right excavator model
As with agricultural activities in which you must avoid over-mechanization, choosing the right vehicle and therefore the right excavator model in this case is really decisive for your fuel budget .
- Certain mechanical machines can be equipped with rock breakers, grippers, grapples or handling forks: a useful versatility in the field of construction as well as mining or forestry. The #1 criterion for choosing the excavator is to ensure that it has the features you need. The weight of an excavator matters, but it is good to read the technical instructions in detail to avoid making a mistake. Criterion No. 2 is the power of the engine : an insufficient engine struggles to operate and consumes more than a more powerful engine. As such, the CAT range of tracked excavators is recognized for its efficiency.
- Most excavators are diesel models , but in recent years hybrid models (diesel-electric) have appeared and are equipped with an energy recovery system.
- Once the parameters linked to clean and efficient work have been studied, there remains driver comfort between driving position and cabin comfort, work assistance, noise level and air conditioning, as in a car.
All of these solutions can help reduce the fuel consumption of your excavators and are of course complementary. However, we do not always have the possibility of controlling everything or renewing an entire fleet of machines. And even on the most recent models, given the increase in prices, the savings remain insufficient. This is why we would like to present to you our solution, the ECOLOW fuel saver .
Reduce the fuel consumption of your excavators with ECOLOW
The ECOLOW box is an effective fuel saving system: its installation is simple and it fits all construction machines, regardless of its fuel (diesel, GNR or gasoline). The system promises savings of up to 20% , in the construction sector , on your fuel budget in addition to reducing polluting emissions. This figure comes from our customers and their actual results and also from our numerous tests carried out before the solution was put on sale.
The number one advantage of the box is that it is a non-intrusive accessory , thus preserving the manufacturer's warranty of your vehicles. It is interchangeable from one machine to another, approved and guaranteed for 2 years, its depreciation is rapid and does not require maintenance.