Snorkels add up

4 October 2021

Snorkel timed the launch of its new dedicated website promoting the benefits and economics of eco-friendly machines to coincide with the first day of the Vertikal Days exhibition, and the company gave demonstrations on its stand. 

Scott McCall, Snorkel’s business development manager and net zero specialist, talked me through the site, which can be found at www.snorkelnetzero.com. He said: “The aim is for the site to be an information hub, not just giving details of our products. Some hirers and users have been quick adopters of battery technology while others are more hesitant and are keen to learn more on the topic.” 

Snorkel offers a range of innovative battery machines, several of which have been covered earlier on the blog. 

A key element of the new website is a calculator which assesses the costs a hirer can typically expect in buying, charging and running a machine compared against a diesel counterpart over its anticipated fleet life. 

In this way hirers can see the overall costs of ownership and the achievable hire rates they can offer for a sensible return. A similar calculator will be available for operators to see the costs and the potential savings they can achieve. 

Details can be worked out according to light, typical or heavy usage. “For example, if a machine is driven for a large proportion of time against lifting, that uses more power,” said Scott. 

“We have already demonstrated the software to a number of hirers and for many it’s been a light-bulb moment when they see the costs of running a battery machine against one on diesel – the cost of which will increase once the red diesel rebate ends for construction users next April. 

"The website also points out other benefits of battery machines like having no fuel to store and keep replenished, no engine oil to dispose of and reduced service visits,” said Scott. 

The battery machines on Snorkel’s Vertikal Days stand had stickers (pictured above) summarising the anticipated cost differences between operating machines powered by lithium batteries, diesel and HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) – the cost of which will also rise sharply from April. 

So against this background of rising fuel prices (to say nothing of recent supply disruptions) eco-friendly power sources can look like an even more cost-effective option.