Clean Running: Fuel Cell Tech is about to Power Up the Construction Equipment Industry

Has the era of fuel cell tech finally come to the construction equipment industry? By all indicators, it has begun to make its mark in the form of an "ultra-powerful" methane fuel cell that will power both light and heavy construction equipment—equipment that now relies on diesel and gas combustion.

The California Silicon Valley company that's producing the power system is claiming that their fuel cell is far more powerful than older technologies and therefore more efficient and of course, environmentally friendly. According to one "green beat" report concerning the subject of methane, alcohol-based fuel cell tech, "the cell will power the electrical systems of vehicles like pallet loaders used in large warehouses. The cells can also be used in new vehicles, but also for retrofitting older vehicles."

But while methane is being touted as "ultra-powerful" compared to earlier cell technologies, is it more powerful than the more popular, but still seemingly elusive hydrogen? According to some experts, while hydrogen offers more thrust, the alcohol-based methane is easier and simpler to obtain. It's also a good bet that it's cheaper.

Whatever type or variety of fuel cell you eventually choose for powering the construction equipment in your future, one thing is absolutely clear: fuel cell tech is here to stay. Or, almost here anyway.

Do you foresee a day when your diesel-powered Mac truck or gas-fired skid steer runs on fuel cell tech? Do you really think you'll derive the same power as that in a combustion engine? Is there any romance to the clean and quiet power generating fuel cell?

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