The “Non-Road Mobile Machinery” (NRMM) sector faces major challenges in terms of sustainability. NRMM includes forklifts, earthmoving, agricultural and construction machinery, power generators, as well as inland vessels and machines used at yards and terminals (reach stackers, straddle carriers, tractors, (gantry) cranes). Retrofitting (upgrading existing engines) is particularly interesting for NRMM, since these applications are designed for long lifecycles and remain operational for many years.
Electrification through retrofitting is technically complex and comes with high costs. In addition, the required charging infrastructure for the NRMM sector, with its powerful machines, heavy usage/load profiles, and corresponding large battery packs, poses significant challenges. As an answer, dual-fuel engines – such as diesel-methanol – offer a practical and more affordable alternative. The fuels for these engines can be stored on-site, and refueling times are comparable to conventional diesel engines. By retrofitting existing diesel engines, these machines can be partially decarbonized and remain in service for many more years without full electrification of the drivetrain, which is both practical and economically beneficial.
Objectives
Determine the ecological and economic impact for companies:
With the help of AI, an evaluation tool is being developed. This tool will be available online for companies that want to analyze the impact of retrofitting on their specific applications.
Address the technological challenges of dual-fuel retrofitting:
Development of a flexible retrofit kit for NRMM applications in inland shipping and yards/terminals for diesel-methanol. The kit will consist of a configurable fuel injection, storage, and supply system.
Target group
The project targets all companies active in inland shipping or in yards/terminals that want to decarbonize their existing fleets or machinery equipped with diesel engines in a feasible way, both on the user and provider side.
