Caterpillar is increasingly focusing on hydrogen technology. A possible cooperation with Canadian cleantech company dynaCERT suggests that heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar is examining bridge technologies for decarbonizing existing fleets. While battery-electric drives are already standard for mini excavators and wheel loaders, the question remains: What happens to the hundreds of thousands of diesel machines that will remain in operation for another 10 to 15 years?
dynaCERT does not supply new drives, but rather a retrofit solution. The system injects hydrogen directly into the intake tract of existing diesel engines. According to the manufacturer, this should reduce fuel consumption by up to 19 percent and significantly reduce emissions. For fleet operators, this means: No need for new purchases, no months-long downtime, no complete restructuring of maintenance operations. The machine remains diesel-powered but consumes less and emits less.
Caterpillar itself is working on several decarbonization pathways. In addition to pure electric excavators and fuel cell prototypes, the company is also testing hybrid drives and alternative fuels. The possible collaboration with dynaCERT demonstrates that Caterpillar is seeking solutions for the transition period. By 2040, the company wants to offer new machines with zero CO₂ emissions. However, what happens to existing machines remains a central challenge for the entire industry.
For construction companies, the question of return on investment arises. A retrofit with hydrogen injection costs between 15,000 and 40,000 euros depending on the machine type. For an average hydraulic excavator with 300 operating hours per month and consumption of 20 liters of diesel per hour, a 19 percent saving results in approximately 1,140 liters less diesel per month. At a diesel price of 1.50 euros, this means a saving of 1,710 euros per month. The investment would be amortized in approximately 18 months – provided the technology delivers on its promises.
The availability of hydrogen on the construction site remains critical. Green hydrogen is expensive and infrastructure is lacking. dynaCERT relies on small quantities generated onboard through electrolysis. The system requires distilled water and power from the onboard electrical system. Whether this works in practice and how the additional maintenance effort will affect operations will be revealed during testing. Caterpillar has not publicly commented on specific test programs or production plans so far.
The industry is watching this move closely. Komatsu, Liebherr, and Volvo CE are also working on hydrogen solutions. The question is no longer whether hydrogen will come, but when and in what form. For fleet operators who need to invest today, bridge technologies like dynaCERT's are an option to meet emission regulations without having to replace their entire fleet. For more information on this topic, please visit our theme portal Hydrogen in Construction Machinery.
