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A change of Heart

What does the shift from an earlier standard tonext-gen BS emission norms really mean as far as vehicle product development isconcerned? And, how does it impact the crucial engine construction andperformance?

Jalaj Gupta throwslight on the developments that are impacting the CE market in the country.

Undoubtedly the engine is the heart of anyvehicle – be it a motor vehicle, bus, truck, tractor, or constructionequipment. When it comes to emission norms and engine changes, it is certainlya major technological shift because any change to the engine will reflect onthe overall efficiency and performance of the vehicle.

BharatStage (BS) Emission Standards

As the world realised the growing importance ofreducing carbon footprint and countries adopted stringent measures forcontrolling polluting vehicular emissions, India too introduced stricteremission norms. Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BSES) were first put in placein 2000 by the Government of India in a bid to control air pollution fromvehicular engine emissions.

For BS standards to be followed, updating theengine from previous to next-gen becomes necessary. So, what does the shiftfrom an earlier standard to next-gen BS emission norms really mean as far asvehicle product development is concerned? And, how does it impact the crucialengine construction and performance?

BS3vs BS4 Engine

Let us get into the nuts and bolts to understandthe difference between BS3 and BS4 engine, and how the phasing out from old tonew-gen will affect engine performance.

At a top level, we need to understand that a BS4engine is able to manage and control evaporative vehicular emissions muchbetter than a BS3 engine, resulting in a cleaner, less polluting vehicle. Takea look at the change in emission levels from BS3 to BS4 for CEvehicles based on their engine power output.

POWER RATING

BS3-CE VEHICLES

BS4-CE VEHICLES

HP

NOx + HC

PM

NOx + HC gms/KM

PM gms/KW

?10.72 HP

7.5

0.6

No Change

49.61 HP = 75 HP

4.7

0.4

4.7

0.025

75 HP = 174 HP

4

0.3

0.4 + 0.19

0.025

 

The big change is about 90 per cent reduction ofPM (particulate matter) in BS4 engines higher than 50 HP. The highly toxicNitrous Oxide (NOx) vapour emissions go down by a whopping 92 per cent in BS4engines higher than 75 HP.

BS3vs BS4 Diesel Engine

The major technology shift is that BS4 dieselengines have to use the more advanced Common Rail technology instead of the oldDirect Injection technology, although most OEMs have already made the shift toCommon Rail Direct injection (CRDi) when BS3 was announced. This was necessaryso that their diesel engine powered vehicles were compliant with the newemission standards.

Another important change now to meet BS4 normsis that BS4 diesel engines have to be fitted with a bigger, more powerfulcatalytic converter known as a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC). This mandatoryfitment in diesel vehicles makes the fuel combustion process more efficient andreduces emission of harmful hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

Also, all diesel vehicles in the new BS4 erahave to be fitted with an Exhaust Gas Regulator, or EGR, and a Urea injector,called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). The latter cuts down NOx vapouremissions by breaking it down and converting NOx molecules into Nitrogen andH2O.

Apart from adopting newer engine technology,there are electronically-driven changes too when it comes to differences in BS3and BS4 norms. To be deemed BS4 compliant, vehicles need to have On BoardDiagnostics (OBD) whereby an in-vehicle electronic panel will continuouslymonitor engine performance and display the vehicle’s vital stats in real time.

In conclusion, it needs to be appreciated thatfor the construction equipment business, conforming to the new BS4 standards asper stated timeline has led to manufacturers making huge investments inexpensive technology, leading to the benefit of an entire latest generation ofadvanced machines.

“The major technology shift is that BS4 dieselengines have to use the more advanced Common Rail technology instead of the oldDirect Injection technology, although most OEMs have already made the shift to CommonRail Direct injection (CRDi) when BS3 was announced.”

-         JalajGupta, CV Business Head, Mahindra Ltd.

 

AboutMahindra EarthMaster BSIV & SX Smart50

With BSIV introduction, the entire EarthMasterRange of Backhoe Loaders is enhanced, both in terms of productivity andfeatures. Powered with a reliable 74 HP CRi Mahindra Engine, it now has 13 percent higher torque compared to BSIII leading to improved machine’s loaderefficiency. With improved hydraulic system which has a higher flow handlingcapacity, and other improvements leading to overall production capacitiesimprovement of 10 per cent.

With quintennial and unique features as BananaBoom, joystick lever, robust design, and bigger buckets, EarthMaster range iswell suited for all types of backhoe applications be it mining, trenching,crushers, building construction or any other work in construction industry.

It would be available in two variants – SX andVX.

SX Smart50 is a product in a new low range HPcategory which is an optimum solution for the hirer segment. The product iscreated with proven Mahindra 50HP Ditech BSIII engine and optimized hydraulicsto provide equivalent Backhoe productivity as 74HP.

SX Smart50 compliments the requirement of pricesensitive customer in a highly competitive low margin segment.

New EarthMaster Range comes with ergonomicallydesign keeping operator comfort at the forefront. With tinted glass, coathanger, mobile and water bottle holder among others, improved feature packedcabin makes it comfortable and safe to our operators. The aim to provide moreprofit and property to their customers, EarthMaster range is designed todeliver the lowest maintenance cost in industry within their respectivecategory.

AboutMahindra RoadMaster BSIV

New BSIV RoadMaster range offers an optimizedsolution and precisely caters to the road contractor’s grading needs forgovernment flagship programs, such as Smart city, Bharatmala, etc., as well asfor major district roads, state highways, border roads, and expansion ofnational highways.

G9075 is powered with 74HP CRI Engine andincreased torque up to 350 NM, which is ideal for State highways, Rural Roads,District Roads, and other projects under PMGSY. This Motor Grader is coupledwith a 3m (10 ft) wide blade and is optimized to deliver zero compromisegrading at a fractional 40 per cent cost as compared to conventional motorgraders.

The G9595 is powered with 95 HP CRi Engine andincreased torque up to 400 NM, which is ideal for National Highway and theirexpansion process, rail corridor, and industrial plot levelling. Keepingoperator comfort in mind, the G9595 comes with ergonomically designedair-conditioned cabin. It provides operator’s fatigue free operating experience,thereby helping them improve overall productivity.

The RoadMaster range will augment the productportfolio of large contractors and will be an optimal solution for constructingmedium roads, state highways, as well as national highways. They are also aptfor applications such as embankment or earthwork for laying of railway tracksand levelling of large plots for industrial construction and ports.

AboutImaxx

Mahindra Construction Equipment has been apioneer in providing telematics solution to its customers in the constructionequipment industry. Continuing the legacy, the company has introduce iMAXXTelematics Technology – a prognostic, diagnostic and predictive fleetmanagement system in the entire range of EarthMaster and RoadMaster.

iMAXX is already tried and tested solution in Mahindra’strucks business and has benefitted the customers in many ways. With effectivemachine monitoring, it also alerts on the preventive maintenance triggers toavoid any major breakdown.

These products come with a one year, unlimitedhours warranty, eliminating the customer’s anxiety when it comes to expensiverepairs. This is possible due to Mahindra's engineering and manufacturingcapability, backed up by a gruelling testing regime and sourcing of the bestcomponents, and the simplicity of the machine design.

Mahindra Construction Equipment have undergonerigorous testing in the harshest of terrains and for the toughest ofapplications. It has been validated on all performance, safety, and reliabilityparameters and is backed by Mahindra’s 50+ dealer sales and service network,which has unparalleled reach across the geography. It is equipped with apttechnology that is optimal and coupled with unmatched quality, superior style,operator comfort, and its innovative telematics technology – IMAXX.

The Mahindra Construction Equipment are beingmanufactured at Mahindra's state-of-the-art facility at Chakan, Pune.Mahindra's Product Development team has utilized extensive consumer insight andfeedback to develop this product, which is built to withstand India's roughterrain and heavy usage. In addition, the product offers all the relevantfeatures using the latest vehicle systems and technologies at competitiveprices.

Globalbusiness scenerio

Globally, the construction equipment industry isone that is on an upward growth path with many interesting trends and factorsdriving demand. First off, before we talk about market trends and demanddrivers, let us get a sense of the scale of the CE industry worldwide.

As per market insight reports, the globalconstruction equipment market size was pegged at a little over US$129-billionin 2019. It is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 2.8 per cent and cross US$160-billionmarket size by 2027.

The Asia-Pacific region dominates with anestimated market size of US$60-billion in 2019. These figures are definitelyencouraging for the sector, given how the pandemic has affected every kind ofconstruction activity in countries across the world.

Now, if we look at the key trends and growthdrivers for construction equipment market worldwide, here are the ones that topthe list:

RisingDemand for Construction Equipment Rental Service: CE rentalservice is a trend that is already prevalent and gaining momentum, particularlyin the APAC region. This trend can be observed in rapidly urbanising countries,such as India and China with intensive infrastructure and constructionactivity, both public and private.

Heavy earth moving equipment is costly and withnewer hi-tech features being added from time to time, the cost of purchasingsuch machines outright is only going up. Therefore, construction equipmentmanufacturers are witnessing a preference for rental equipment fromconstruction firms, builders, and contractors who need the constructionmachinery only for a temporary duration and want to avoid incurring highpurchase and maintenance costs.

This rental business demand is being recognisedas an additional and high potential profit stream by many constructionequipment manufacturers who are renting out their old and well performing earthmoving equipment to their customers. There are several benefits offered bythese machines, such as high reliability, safety and flexibility to attachextra tools; that is boosting their proliferation in the market. Hence, rentalservices as a trend is a major contributor to the overall growth of the CEmarket.

Demandfor Technologically Upgraded Equipment: Anotherglobal trend driving growth in the CE market is the requirement fortechnologically upgraded and high-performance construction machinery. Earthmoving equipment, such as backhoe loaders, are rugged specialised machinesequipped to perform heavy-duty construction related earthwork.

The new generation of earth movers are vastlysuperior in design with improved engine technology and cutting-edge features. Theseare also smart connected machines, sporting a contemporary digital instrumentcluster and advanced onboard diagnostics. Take, for example, the newly launchedrange of Mahindra backhoe loaders and Mahindra graders.

The new Mahindra EarthMaster VX IV backhoeloader has the proven and upgraded CRDi Mahindra engine that is compliant withlatest CEV Stage-IV emission norms and delivers best-in-class fuel efficiency. Ithas bigger loader and backhoe buckets for higher productivity, a reinforcedstructure for better load bearing capacity, and improved hydraulics to deliveroptimal performance.

The Mahindra EarthMaster VX IV is also equippedwith Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology that enhances operationalcapabilities. It allows you to stay updated with key vehicle and businessinformation with smart tech features viz. Live Tracking, Accurate Refills,Predictive Vehicle Health Monitoring, Fuel Efficiency Analysis, FuelConsumption, Theft Alerts, AdBlue® Monitoring, Driver Behaviour Monitoring, anda range of Automated Operation Reports.

Increasein Spending on Construction and Infrastructure Projects: Hugegovernment investments in the construction sector for large publicinfrastructure projects, such as roads, highways, schools, hospitals and so on,is being seen in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe andAsia Pacific. Ongoing and planned smart city projects in several countries arealso providing a big boost to spending on construction activity.

As per an IBEF report, India’s spends outlay oninfrastructure for the next five years i.e. 2020-2025 is approximately US$1.4-trillion.

All these indicators for increase in bigspending on construction and infrastructure projects will shore up demand andkeep demand buoyant for the construction equipment market.


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