Obayashi Corporation, in cooperation with Komatsu, conducted a demonstration experiment of hydrogen use at construction sites. A hydrogen-mixed combustion generator was introduced to charge an electric mini-excavator used in slope repair work on the Oita Expressway, and the practicality of small electric construction machinery at construction sites was confirmed. Compared to using diesel alone as fuel, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions during charging were reduced by approximately 40%, and the results of the demonstration will be utilized in the planned introduction of electric construction machinery (GX construction machinery) in the future.
In the demonstration, Komatsu’s electric mini-excavator “PC30E-6”, which has been certified as a GX construction machinery, was used for loading soil and sand, along with Komatsu’s hydrogen-mixed combustion generator for charging it. For the on-site demonstration, a verification test was conducted in advance at Obayashi Corporation’s West Japan Robotics Center (Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture) assuming the operation of each machine at a construction site, and then the machine was introduced at the actual construction site.
The introduction of electric construction machinery is effective in reducing CO2 emissions during construction, but the development of power supply infrastructure is an issue at construction sites in areas where the power distribution network is not in place.