Power Briefing recap, week of July 28

Welcome to August! As we continue trying to balance holidays with work responsibilities, here’s what you might have missed this week in Power Briefing:

• Electrifying compact equipment has proven to be a challenge. However, Chinese OEMs have seen success with machines for high-utilization applications, such as mining and quarrying. Off-Highway Research’s Chris Sleight believes that success gives them a global head start.
• Designing engines for agriculture requires durability and adaptability — qualities that also suit marine propulsion. John Deere Power Systems’ Vince Rodomista says the company’s ag experience is helping it design power systems for the demanding marine market.
• Battery-electric Class 8 trucks face steep adoption hurdles in the U.S., but Daimler’s Rizon Truck brand is thriving with Class 4 and 5 models. Urban duty cycles and Daimler backing have made electrification a better fit for those applications.
• Volvo Trucks is using a specialized fuel delivery system from Westport Fuel Systems to run LNG in its D13 compression-ignition (CI) engine. Along with lower emissions, Volvo reports strong driver satisfaction.

Other news included a next-gen steering system for Mercedes-Benz trucks, Hamm introducing two fully electric pivot-steered tandem rollers and Tata Motors’ acquisition of Iveco Group.