Diesel fuel, which currently powers 20% of Australian cars, as well as a majority of the country’s trucks, farming, and mining equipment, may soon face its demise due to the intensifying global efforts to reduce emissions. This shift away from diesel is being driven by major businesses worldwide, prompting calls for a transition policy in Australia to facilitate the change. The development of alternative fuels and the rapid progress of diesel-to-electric conversions are further accelerating the transition. It is important to note that conventional diesel is a fossil fuel derived from crude oil.

Despite its leaner fuel consumption compared to petrol, diesel still generates significant carbon emissions and releases toxic gases. Concerns about its environmental impact, coupled with the rising cost of diesel due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, are propelling the adoption of cleaner technologies. Investing in a diesel scanner for your truck can offer numerous benefits when it comes to diagnosing and fixing emissions leakage issues, ensuring your truck remains within the required standards. These advanced diagnostic tools enable you to precisely pinpoint any potential leaks or malfunctions in your truck’s emission system, helping you address them promptly. By identifying and resolving these issues early on, you can prevent further damage, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce harmful emissions. Additionally, diesel scanners provide real-time data and comprehensive reports, empowering you to monitor your truck’s emissions performance over time. This proactive approach not only helps you stay compliant with environmental regulations but also promotes a greener, more sustainable fleet operation. By utilizing a Diesel Diagnostic Laptop, you can take proactive steps towards reducing emissions and contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment for all.

Good maintenance practices lead to reductions in raw exhaust emission levels and ultimately lower worker exposures. It is crucial that maintenance plans, focusing on emissions,is integral to the overall plan for reductions in workplace exposures.Operators should be aware of their equipment’s emissions and report any changes, such as visible black smoke, to maintenance.Servicing should be undertaken by competent personnel who can interpret diesel emission monitoring results to minimiseemissions following maintenance and repairs.If maintenance is inadequate, the performance of any dieselengine will degrade, with a resultant increase in particulate emissions. The effectiveness of the maintenance regime can
be measured by:

Maintenance and repairs

• conducting DPM baseline tests prior to the diesel engine
  commencing operation
• regularly monitoring raw exhaust levels of diesel engines
  over their operational life cycle. For diagnostic purposes,
  this is best undertaken at the same time as a raw exhaust
  gas test:
  – for diesel engines that meet or exceed American EPA
  Tier 2 or European EPA Stage II emission standards,
  Management of diesel emissions in Western Australian mining operations – guideline 16
  the results should not deviate from the baseline test
  by more than 30 per cent
  – for diesel engines that do not meet American EPA
  Tier 2 or European EPA Stage II emission standards,
  the results should not deviate from the baseline test
  by more than 15 per cent
• the cause of any deviation from the baseline should be
  determined and recorded, and appropriate action taken to
  return the engine emission levels to their baseline status

 

While many remain skeptical about the viability of electric vehicles in rural areas, major agricultural equipment manufacturers are already making the transition. Volvo, for instance, has announced its plan to go fully electric by 2026, aligning with the global goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Similarly, farm equipment manufacturer John Deere intends to introduce autonomous battery-powered tractors in 2026. and Tesla is already been manufacturing All electric Semi Trucks.

In addition to electric options, there are technologies such as biodiesel and renewable diesel that can extend the lifespan of diesel engines. Biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease, while renewable diesel is a refined biofuel produced from biomass sources like straw, cotton waste, or purpose-grown grass. While widely used overseas, Australia is also developing plants for these alternative fuels.

Janus Electric, a small company on the Central Coast of New South Wales, has been successfully converting diesel prime movers to electric motors. The company is currently trialing seven trucks involved in agriculture, mining, and food distribution. Janus Electric has received orders for 130 conversions from companies across Australia, indicating promising prospects for the shift to electric. These converted trucks achieve impressive ranges of 400-600 kilometers per charge and boast high power levels. Moreover, they offer cost advantages, with operating expenses of 40-60 cents per kilometer compared to the $1.00-1.15/km typically incurred with diesel.

The shipping industry, responsible for transporting 80% of the world’s freight, generates approximately 3% of global emissions. Consequently, transitioning to renewable sources or converting diesel engines on ships to electric power is crucial for global efforts to move away from fossil fuels. Maersk, a global shipping company, is leading the way by investing billions in low-emission fuels and commissioning 19 new ships powered by green methanol. The company aims to convert all its 700 ships worldwide to low-emission technologies within the next 25 to 30 years. Although the transition will result in increased freight prices of around $100 per container, Maersk expects a significant reduction of approximately 95% in emissions from these new ships.