< Previousthat are already successfully using alternative fuels and advanced engine technologies to decarbonise their buildings and industrial mobility. According to Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), transport as a sector has the highest reliance on fossil fuels of any sector and accounted for 37% of CO2 emissions from end- use sectors in 2021. While it was one of the sectors most aff ected by the Covid-19 pandemic, emissions resumed their rise as demands increased and the uptake of alternative fuels remains limited. That growth is most notable in developing and emerging economies. Getting transportation on track with the IEA’s Net Zero Scenario requires implementing a broad set of policies, to encourage modal shifts to the least carbon-intensive travel options, and operational and technical energy effi ciency measures to reduce the carbon intensity of all transport modes. Heavy industries like mining, transportation, and agriculture are making ambitious commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. But the diesel truck fl eets these companies use – everything from 300-tonnes haulers at mining sites to 18-wheel tractor trailers on highways – are a primary source of CO2, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) said in its report. ALTERNATIVE FUELS ARE THE SOLUTION As per a recent report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) cutting down on the usage of fossil fuels is the most important step in meeting the desired emission norms. The report looks at various aspects of climate mitigation, and that is, what governments, corporations, and individuals can do to avert the climate cliff and there are options provided for all sectors to cut emissions by at least half by 2030. “Limiting global warming will require major transitions in the energy sector. This will involve a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrifi cation, improved energy effi ciency, and use of alternative fuels (such as hydrogen),” the IPCC report said. TYPES OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS As heavy industry is looking for some quick solutions to reduce emissions without worrying too much about the logistics and other challenges associated with them. As industry leading organisations are scrambling for alternative fuels to reduce emissions without sacrifi cing profi tability, hydrogen, electricity, and bio-fuels have emerged as the front runners. Each of these three fuels have their own advantages and disadvantages. HYDROGEN Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe. Hydrogen can be produced by the reforming process or by using electrical current to separate water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen. It is regarded as the zero-carbon fuel, but scientists have pointed out the process to manufacture hydrogen is not without emissions. Its advantages is that it can be used in fuel cells or internal combustion engines. Regarding hydrogen vehicles, hydrogen has begun to be used in commercial fuel cell vehicles such as passenger cars, and has been used in fuel cell buses for many years. It is also used as a fuel for spacecraft Trucks with electric powered engines are gaining popularity propulsion and is being proposed for hydrogen- powered aircraft. Challenges associated with its production, storage and transportation, makes it very diffi cult for the heavy industry to make a switch to it. ELECTRIC Electric powered engines have gained popularity in the past decade and are often promoted as quick solution to city pollution. Fully electric vehicles (EV) have zero tailpipe emissions and are considered as much better for the environment. The electric vehicle revolution is already taking shape across many countries in the world. Lower running cost is another major advantage for electric powered engines compared to petrol or diesel powered ones. Electric vehicles are more effi cient, and that combined with the electricity cost means that charging an electric vehicle is cheaper than fi lling petrol or diesel for the travel requirements. Using ALTERNATIVE FUELS 20 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023 Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe Transportation industry is looking at various alternative fuels to reduce emissions without sacrifi cing profi tability renewable energy sources can make the use of electric vehicles more eco-friendly. Despite all these advantages, challenges related to the production of batteries, the most important factor, and lower availability of critical metals needed to produce them in industrial is the major obstacle, which leading industry research institutes haven’t been able to overcome. BIOFUELS According to environmental news portal, EcoWatch, biofuels off er several advantages over fossil fuels. Most are less toxic. Crops used to produce them can be grown quickly, so unlike coal, oil and gas that take millions of years to form, they are considered renewable. They can also be grown almost anywhere, reducing the need for infrastructure like pipelines and oil tankers and, in many areas, confl icts around scarcity and political upheaval. Biofuel-petroleum blends also generally result in lower emissions relative to fuels that do not contain biofuels. Biodiesel combustion may result in slightly higher amounts of nitrogen oxides relative to petroleum diesel. But according to some biofuels also have environmental benefi ts, their production and use do have eff ects on the environment. Lack of reliable supply chain for biomass covering collection, transportation and handling of biomass feedstock is the biggest challenge associated with them. ALTERNATIVE FUELS 21 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023 Ann Fandozzi , CEO Ritchie Bros along with Eduard Faig, regional sales manager, Middle East & Africa A nn Fandozzi joined Ritchie Bros, a global asset management and disposition company, in 2020 as CEO, just three months before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which lasted for nearly two years, and the unprecedented government-implemented movement restrictions across the world forced companies to develop strategies to keep their businesses afl oat. Ann set out to move everything online as one of her fi rst initiatives at Ritchie Bros., and the changes were successful, resulting in the number of registered bidders growing exponentially. This encouraged her to make more strategic changes in the company over the next two years to further develop the company’s digital capabilities and expand its global marketplace. In an exclusive interview with PMV Middle East , she talks about their plans in the region. Fandozzi says, “I joined Ritchie Bros. in January of 2020, and the company has been magical. It had already been around for decades, but the issue was that it was largely not growing. This was why I joined, to help the company unlock their potential and realise its growth.” Originally from Canada and with offi ces all over the world – including Dubai – the company DIGITALLY DRIVING GROWTH operates across diff erent verticals, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, mining, and forestry. Its asset disposition formats include Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world’s largest industrial auctioneer with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured auctions and IronClad Assurance(R) equipment condition certifi cation; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace off ering multiple price and timing options; Ritchie List, a self-serve listing service for North America; and Mascus, a self-serve European online equipment listing service. Explaining the group’s future strategy, she reveals, “We believe our job is not to dictate how our customers buy or sell their equipment, trucks and vehicles. We guide them through the disposition process, and if they want to transact through us we have options that fi t their needs. And not just auctions. They can drop equipment off at our site and we can sell on Marketplace-E with full control over price and process.” She says, “We’ve also devised other ways to help businesses during the equipment lifecycle, and make them available a la carte. So, if somebody wants to fi nance their equipment purchase with us, we can do that. If they would like a piece of equipment to be appraised, we can do that. With SmartEquip, we off er world-class software to manage equipment parts procurement, dramatically improving our customers’ service effi ciency and uptime.” On the rationale behind moving the majority of operations online, Ann said: “I studied the company before I joined and came to the conclusion we should transition to a marketplace. This means meeting customers where they are, INTERVIEW 22 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023Ritchie Bros is bullish on construction industry growth prospects in the GCC region The company’s equipment and vehicle yard in Dubai and this isn’t limited to auctions only.” She says, “I am geeky engineering by training, I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering. So, I love numbers, and I love testing. So we tested lots of models around the world, and the idea is that we are open to any way customers want to come in. We also tested and launched ‘satellite’ yards in Australia and Europe, and now we are also doing it in North America. These smaller yards are closer to our customers and have already unlocked an incredible amount of growth for us.” MIDDLE EAST OPERATIONS Speaking about the growth prospects of the company in 2023, particularly in the Middle East region, she reveals that operations in the Middle East region, including the GCC region, are part of their ‘International’ operations (Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and Pacifi c). She explains that the Middle East is a part of the EMEA region, and – in terms of equipment sales - this part of the division has been stagnant for some time. “So, in order to augment the growth in the region, we made some enhancements in how we run the business. If you look at our yard in Dubai, at the Jebel al Ali Port and Freezone area, there are areas earmarked for Marketplace-E. Some items are great for our unreserved online auction events in Dubai, others are well-suited for selling from our yard through our controlled online marketplace.” At the Ritchie Bros. Dubai yard, equipment and vehicles can be safely stored while we attract qualifi ed buyers through advanced global marketing programs. And if customers want to come here and have a look, they can do so. “We’re seeing that Europe is slowing down,” she says, “but the Middle East and Australia are experiencing incredible growth. We are already focusing on the online platform here as well,” says Fandozzi, while adding, “we operate through an omni-channel disposition platform that continues to attract buyers and sellers from around the world.” STRATEGY GOING FORWARD Revealing more about the company’s future strategy, she explains, “The need of the market is the way forward for us, and we will focus on that. Here in the GCC region because construction is so big that we are focusing on construction.” “We are continuously looking at developing new verticals and strengthening our online presence. All these developments resulted in augmenting growth for us,” says Fandozzi, while adding that she has taken steps to strengthen communication channels with all employees. She says, “We have monthly town halls where we talk about everything; we talk about tests we have done, things that have gone well, and things that haven’t gone well. How are we going to propel technology? There’s a lot of talent working with us. Keeping our employee communications open, stimulates innovation and active participation throughout our company.” BETTER TIMES AHEAD She also expressed optimism that the ongoing chip shortage situation could also improve in 2023 following the easing of movement restrictions in China and improvements in Covid-19-related lockdowns. “If equipment opens, it will be good for everyone, and beyond this, any other challenges are primarily taking place on a regional level. Supply-chain disruption has been the major global challenge in our industry we have faced in recent times,” she concludes. INTERVIEW 23 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023KEY PERSONALITIES Volta Trucks, the leading and disruptive full- electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has appointed Claes Nilsson to its board of directors. Claes Nilsson has joined the Volta Trucks board following an extensive career in commercial vehicles with AB Volvo, where he held the position of president of Volvo Trucks and member of its executive board, Volta Trucks wrote in a statement. Prior to this, he was responsible for Volvo Trucks regions in Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa, as well as previously being responsible for strategy, business development and product planning, both regionally and globally. He’s also held board positions for Volvo Financial Services, Volvo Venture Capital, and several market companies across AB Volvo. Claes brings a deep understanding and knowledge of the commercial vehicle industry to the board of directors, including retail, aftersales service, supply chain, fi nancing, leasing, and rental as well as the body builder marketplace. Announcing the appointment of Claes Nilsson, Douglas Snyder, president of Luxor Capital Group and chairman of the board of directors of Volta Trucks, said: “The appointment of Claes Nilsson comes just two months after the appointment of Karl Viktor Schaller to the Volta Trucks Board. These new appointments further strengthen the deep experience within the board, bringing key industry expertise and validation to the company as it focuses on its commercial operations, and converting the initial interest generated in the full-electric Volta Zero into confi rmed and binding orders.” Global automotive giant Hyundai has announced the appointment of DH Park as its new head of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) Middle East and Africa regional HQ. With HMC, Park has assumed his duties at the regional headquarters in Dubai as of this week. He will also oversee operations across the Middle East Africa region, Upon his arrival to the region, Park said, “Hyundai Motor Company is a top leading global carmaker, and our product line-up maintains its spot as a leader in many of the region's markets, supported by our extensive network of distributors.” He said, “Thanks to the growing number of satisfi ed and loyal customers, we will work with our team to maintain our strong performance in this important region despite global challenges, and also in fulfi lment of Hyundai Motor Company’s global vision of progress for humanity with mobility, connectivity, and carbon neutrality.” During his illustrious career at HMC, Park has worked in nearly every role related to marketing and sales and has extensive work experience in numerous countries across Canada and Australia, as well as Spain where he served as president of Hyundai Motor in the country. Later, he went back to Hyundai HQ as the head of the Asia & MEA Group. Park's previous position was at Hyundai Motor in India where he was the executive director of sales, marketing, and services. Park brings with him over 27 years of automobile experience with global leadership roles in various positions at Hyundai Motor Company. Renault Group has announced the appointment of François Provost as group chief purchasing offi cer and managing director of Alliance Purchasing Organisation (APO), eff ective 1 February 2023. He will report to Luca de Meo, CEO Renault Group. Provost also retained his current responsibility for group partnerships and public aff airs. Born in 1968, Provost graduated from the École Polytechnique and École des Mines de Paris in France. He started his career as senior civil servant in the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, treasury department. He then became senior advisor to the French Minister of Defence. He joined Renault in 2002 in the sales & marketing division in France as branch general manager, then regional sales director. In 2005, he took the position of managing director of Renault-Nissan Portugal. From 2008 to 2010, he served as vice-president, strategy and planning, within the sales and marketing department. He was then appointed chief operating offi cer of Renault Russia. Born in 1968, Provost graduated from the École Polytechnique and École des Mines de Paris in France. He started his career as senior civil servant in the French ministry of economy and fi nance, treasury department. He then became senior advisor to the French minister of defence. He joined Renault in 2002 in the sales & marketing division in France as branch general manager, then regional sales director. In 2005, he took the position of managing director of Renault-Nissan Portugal. From 2008 to 2010, he served as vice-president, strategy and planning, within the sales and marketing department. He was then appointed chief operating offi cer of Renault Russia. VOLTA TRUCKS APPOINTS CLAES NILSSON AS ITS BOARD MEMBER HYUNDAI APPOINTS DH PARK AS HEAD OF MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA REGIONAL RENAULT APPOINTS FRANÇOIS PROVOST AS CHIEF PURCHASING OFFICER & MANAGING DIRECTOR OF APO 24 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023 PEOPLEEPIROC WINS LARGE EQUIPMENT ORDER FOR PLATINUM MINE IN SOUTH AFRICA E piroc, a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, has won a large order for low-profi ling mining equipment from African Rainbow Minerals for use at a platinum mine in South Africa. African Rainbow Minerals has ordered drill rigs, loaders and mine trucks for use at the Bokoni Platinum Mine in the Limpopo Province, South Africa, Epiroc wrote in a statement posted on its website. “The mine is restarting after operations have been paused for care and maintenance the past few years,” the statement noted. According to Epiroc, the machines ordered are built with a low profi le well suited for the mine’s low tunnel heights. The equipment includes Boomer face-drilling rigs, Boltec and Cabletec rock-reinforcement rigs, Scooptram loaders and Minetruck haulers. All machines come with Epiroc’s Certiq telematics solution for automated monitoring of productivity and machine performance. Other advanced features include, for example, the Boomer machines being equipped with a pilot hydraulic control system that further improves drilling accuracy.” Commenting on the development, Helena Hedblom, president and CEO at Epiroc, said, “We are excited to once again provide equipment to the Bokoni Platinum Mine. We look forward to supporting African Rainbow Minerals as they restart and operate the mine in the most productive and safe way possible.” Epiroc claims that it develops and provides innovative and safe equipment, such as drill rigs, rock excavation and construction equipment and tools for surface and underground applications. + For highest payloads + Reliable on uneven terrain + Unbeatable loading height Find out more www.goldhofer.com TRANSPORT VEHICLES FOR CHALLENGING TRANSPORT OPERATIONS 25 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023 EQUIPMENTS Caterpillar is foucs more on electrifi cation C aterpillar Inc is investing in Lithos Energy, Inc., a US-based battery technology company that produces lithium-ion battery packs as a part of its commitment to support the energy transition in the construction and mining equipment segment. “Caterpillar’s collaboration with Lithos supports our commitment to delivering robust electrifi ed products and solutions for our customers,” said Joe Creed, group president of Caterpillar’s Energy & Transportation segment while addingm “Cat® equipment – regardless of its power source – is designed to operate in the most demanding conditions. Lithos’ experience manufacturing battery packs for similarly demanding environments will be an asset as we continue our electrifi ed product development.” Headquartered in San Rafael, California, Lithos specialises in designing, engineering and manufacturing shock resistant and high performance battery solutions for applications including off -road and marine. “We are extremely excited to be working with Caterpillar, especially at a time when the CATERPILLAR ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN BATTERY TECH COMPANY LITHOS ENERGY leading construction machinery and equipment manufacturer is entering a new age of effi ciency and reduced emission operation,” commented James Meredith, CEO of Lithos Energy. He said,“Caterpillar’s forward thinking, commitment to electrifi cation and leadership position on the global stage for equipment manufacturers make this an ideal match. This funding will enable Lithos to accelerate technology development and scale up manufacturing capacity as we look forward to providing increasingly advanced product off erings to our new and existing customers.” Caterpillar’s investment in Lithos further demonstrates Caterpillar’s commitment to support customers in the energy transition with Caterpiller believes that the deal will help to accelerate the development of Caterpillar’s electrifi ed product portfolio CONSTRUCTION AND MINING 26 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023 Caterpillar is world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment lower-carbon advanced power technologies for its hybrid and full-electric machines and power generation products. The company recently displayed four electric construction machine prototypes, including battery prototypes, at bauma 2022 in Munich, Germany and successfully demonstrated its fi rst battery electric 793 large mining truck at its Tucson Proving Ground in Arizona. The mining and construction equipment major recently displayed four electric construction machine prototypes, including battery prototypes, at Bauma 2022: the 320 medium electric excavator, the 950 GC medium electric wheel loader, the 301.9 electric compact excavator and the 906 electric compact wheel loader. The current prototypes are powered by Caterpillar-designed 48-volt, 300-volt and 600-volt lithium-ion batteries, which feature a modular design for fl exible confi guration across multiple applications, including the potential to reuse and recycle at the end of life, Cat says. In addition, Cat recently demonstrated its fi rst battery electric 793 large mining truck at its Tucson Proving Ground in Arizona. Caterpillar has committed to 100% of its new products through 2030 being more sustainable than the previous generation. While electrifi cation is part of that equation, it has acknowledged that it is one of many solutions needed to help customers reach their sustainability goals. ABOUT CATERPILLAR With 2021 sales and revenues of $51.0 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off - highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company said, “For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced carbon future.” Its innovative products and services, backed by a global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. It does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments: Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation and providing fi nancing and related services through its fi nancial products segment. ABOUT LITHOS ENERGY Lithos Energy, Inc is a San Francisco based engineering fi rm that designs, builds and integrates lithium-ion battery systems. Founded by two MIT engineers who had previously worked for some of the biggest electric vehicle companies in the United States, Lithos Energy provides custom energy storage solutions to a range of markets. The Lithos team is dedicated to developing the best solutions for each application, working with clients who are committed to producing great products for customers. The company claims that it understand that behind every technological and product breakthrough is a team of dedicated people who sweat the details and who work tirelessly to develop new, innovative solutions. It said, “We are committed to the success of our clients, partners and projects. By off ering in-house prototyping and production, we can rapidly innovate and ensure that each production product meets the exacting specifi cations required for the application.” “We are extremely excited to be working with Caterpillar, especially at a time when the leading construction machinery and equipment manufacturer is entering a new age of effi ciency and reduced-emission operation,” said James Meredith, CEO of Lithos Energy. CONSTRUCTION AND MINING 27 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023I n its recently released statement, the company highlighted the major milestones it achieved in 2022 Volta Trucks saw the headcount of the company grow by over 20% in 2022, to nearly 700 employees. This included key appointments across the business, including Steve Dichter as Chief Strategy Offi cer; Adam Chassin as chief commercial offi cer and Karl Viktor Schaller who joined the Volta Trucks board of directors. In November 2022, Volta Trucks announced a successful extension of its Series C funding round, taking the total investment into the company to over $390 million (€360 million) to date. The funding extension validates the company’s continued progress as it accelerates engineering, testing and certifi cation work ahead of the start of production vehicles this year. VOLTA ZERO UNDERGOES SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING ADVANCEMENTS Volta Trucks completed rigorous programmes of hot and cold weather testing of the full-electric Volta Zero, between plus 39 degrees celsius and minus 30 degrees celsius. Both programmes were VOLTA TRUCKS REGISTERED OVER 200% GROWTH IN 2022 Founded in 2019 in Sweeden, Volta Trucks aims to accelerate the transition to fully electric trucks, reducing the eff ects of climate change and helping make our cities safer, healthier and more sustainable for everyone designed to ensure that the vehicle will deliver outstanding levels of reliability and durability when series production of customers specifi cation trucks starts. VOLTA TRUCKS COMPLETES FIRST ON- ROAD ENGINEERING TEST PHASE OF VOLTA ZERO ACROSS PARIS & LONDON Volta Trucks completed an on-road engineering test phase of the full-electric Volta Zero prototype on the roads of Paris and London, with some of Europe’s largest fl eet operators. Customers included DB Schenker, Petit Forestier, the UK’s The Crown Estate and Clipper Logistics, international parcel delivery service, DPD and Fraikin, leaders in commercial vehicle fl eet services. These cargo-free trials gave engineering teams feedback from over 25 customers on the vehicle’s performance, world-fi rst driver-centric cab and innovative safety features. VOLTA TRUCKS COMPLETES FIRST CUSTOMER DRIVING EVALUATION EVENTS IN EUROPE Throughout 2022, Volta Trucks undertook the fi rst customer and media evaluation events of the Volta Zero Design Verifi cation prototype in the company’s European launch markets. The evaluations, undertaken on proving grounds in Paris, Madrid, Milan, Selm in Germany and Millbrook, England, saw over 1,500 test drives completed by customers and international media. The Volta Zero was also presented at IAA Hannover, Europe’s largest trade show for the commercial vehicle industry in September, as well as other events including Fully Charged Live, ITT Hub and the Commercial Vehicle Show. VOLTA TRUCKS REVEALS TRUCK AS A SERVICE CUSTOMER OPERATIONS CENTRE IN PARIS AND LONDON Volta Trucks confi rmed details of its fi rst ’Volta Trucks Hubs’ in Paris and London, serving the service and maintenance needs of the Volta Zero vehicles that will operate on the streets in those cities from early 2023. The network of Hubs, with more to follow in 2023, will be a critical enabler of the company’s innovative Truck as a service off er, INSIGHT 28 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023that will revolutionise the ownership, fi nancing and maintenance of commercial vehicle fl eets. First full-electric Volta Zero drives off the production line in Steyr, Austria The company confi rmed that the fi rst Volta Zero vehicle has been completed at the company’s contract manufacturing facility in Steyr, Austria. The landmark vehicle, the fi rst of a series of second-generation ‘Production Verifi cation’ prototypes, will form part of a Pilot Fleet of trucks which will be loaned to customers for extended periods in early 2023. This will allow fl eet operators to understand how the full-electric medium duty truck will integrate into their operations. VOLTA TRUCKS PARTNERS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS Volta Trucks announced key strategic partnerships with industry leaders, to deliver best-in-class solutions. These partnerships included Siemens Smart Infrastructure, the leader in electrifi cation, to deliver comprehensive charging infrastructure and software to Volta Trucks customers; Carrier Transicold as the sole supplier of refrigerated equipment for the full-electric 16-tonne Volta Zero; Paneltex as the supplier of ambient cargo boxes, and Cake electric motorcycles to test an electric mobile micro hub for last mile delivery. INSIGHT 29 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comFEBRUARY 2023Next >