Rental firm offers hydrogen technology on heavy machines after successful trials

UK-based Stevens Equipment Rental (SER) said trials of retrofit technology to improve the efficiency of engine combustion on diesel powered machines had reduced fuel consumption by up to 25%. The system uses electrolysis to create hydrogen which is injected into the diesel engine, accelerating and improving fuel burn.

The family-owned business, which is located in Cumbria in the north west of England, worked with specialist Ultimate Cell to trial the technology on SER’s 35 tonne Volvo EC350E excavator and an 18 tonne Volvo L120H wheel loader.

Based on the excavator trial, SER estimated that on an annual operation of 2,000 hours fuel savings of up to 25% were possible, while 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions could be saved.

A Volvo EC350E excavator in SER’s rental fleet used to evaluate Ultimate Cell’s hydrogen-on-demand technology. (Image: SER)

The wheel loader trial showed an overall reduction in fuel use during the six-month period, with savings of over 10% in some cases.

SER has now integrated the technology into its commercial offering for customers.

The retrofit system – which can be installed and removed quickly and used on multiple machines – splits an electrolyte fluid into hydrogen and oxygen, which are then injected into the engine air intake in controlled amounts.

The gas acts as a catalyst to accelerate combustion for a more complete fuel burn. That enables the engine to generate higher torque from the same volume of diesel with significantly less soot.

SER and Ultimate Cell used the machines’ telematics system to track daily fuel consumption for three months to establish a baseline, followed by six months of monitoring following installation.

Stronger torque and smoother operation

In addition to the fuel savings, operators noted stronger torque, smoother operation, and quieter engine behaviour across both machines.

“We are taking a pragmatic approach to decarbonisation,” said Mark Need, SER’s sales manager for Scotland and the north of England.

“While the industry waits for large-scale electric or full-hydrogen solutions to become commercially viable for heavy earthmoving — especially in remote locations — this trial proves our customers can use Ultimate Cell to reduce their impact today. It strengthens sustainability proposals for contractors tendering for major infrastructure projects.”

The Tiple Ultimate Cell unit (three cells in total) fitted to a Volvo EC350E excavator in the SER fleet. (Image: SER)

The system requires no additional operator training, said SER, and can only be seen when the engine cover is opened.

The only maintenance required is electrolyte replacement, which takes minutes and typically at extended operating intervals.

Gareth Eeson, managing director of Ultimate Cell UK, said: “The SER team went into the trial with an open mind and a genuine appetite for innovation.

“They worked supportively with us to optimise the set-up with fortnightly check-ins at the start and a commitment to double-checking every result.

“SER can now confidently offer a solution that is largely invisible to the operator, but highly visible on the balance sheet and the sustainability report.

“By combining structured data analysis with real operational feedback, we’ve demonstrated that combustion optimisation can deliver measurable fuel and emissions reductions today, without waiting for future infrastructure or fleet replacement.”

Founded in 1975, Stevens Equipment Rental runs a fleet of more than 180 machines including dumptrucks (25–60 tonnes), wheel loaders (16–36 tonnes), material handlers, excavators and tracked dozers.

In addition to its Cumbrian base it has depots in Kettering, Glasgow, Dundee, and has plans for further expansion.

Ultimate Cell is a distributor for Portuguese company UTIS, which was founded in 2018 through a joint venture between Ultimate Cell and Semapa.