BCAS 2018

www.bcas.org.uk 35 Technology Guide Is it time to rethink mobile power For many fleet operators, having access to mobile power is essential for business operations. Mobile power is required for many tasks carried out on the road, including the operation of road drills, hand tools, submersible pumps and electrofusion equipment, and for supplying site lighting. BCAS reports. F or businesses that rely on mobile power, this has often meant towing a separate generator and/or compressor, carrying them in the back of a vehicle or arranging for these items to be delivered to site. There is an alternative: on-vehicle power. This involves a vehicle being converted so that the power of the engine is used to drive auxiliary equipment. On-vehicle power systems can provide compressed air, electric, hydraulic or high pressure water jetting. And, compared to the traditional approach of using separate plant to provide power, they offer differing benefits. On- vehicle power systems are available on light commercial vehicles to deliver compressed air at up to 120cfm at 12 bar and electric power up to 10kVA. Other outputs are available for larger vehicles. Employees essentially drive a mobile work station and can benefit from a changed working environment with potentially lower noise & exhaust emissions. When choosing portable power, it is important to compare life cycle costs (including vehicle fuel consumption) and the service offering. But there are some important legal requirements to be aware of too. On-vehicle power systems should be installed and certified in line with manufacturer guidelines and, where applicable, to EUWVTA UK National Small Series Type Approval (NSSTA). Type Approval means the vehicle installation conforms to current legislation, meets legal requirements. It’s also important to consider the impact a conversion will have on payload. There has been growing pressure for equipment installed within a vehicle to be as light as possible, most notably because of the introduction of Euro 6, now a mandatory requirement for all new factory-build light commercial vehicles. The extra technology that is being fitted to meet the new emission regulations results in the base vehicle becoming heavier, potentially eating into payload capacity and increasing the risk of a vehicle being overweight. Therefore the user should ensure they understand the fully installed weight of any on-vehicle power system rather than simply the weight of the component parts. Reducing weight must have been achieved without compromising the integrity of the system. In addition to drive line underfloor systems, compact engine mounted compressor system are also available for both front and rear wheel drive vehicles, where the on-vehicle power system is installed within the engine compartment to reduce the overall vehicle weight and increase payload. Vehicle Mounted Compressors