Commercial vehicles for the construction industry: diesel on the decline

The typical fleet in the construction industry includes tippers, concrete mixers, roll-off and skip loaders, and heavy articulated lorries. These vehicles are frequently used off-road, have to move heavy loads and must operate reliably under difficult conditions. Compact vehicles and flexible transport solutions are also becoming increasingly important, particularly in inner-city construction.

Traditionally, diesel engines have dominated this sector – primarily due to their high energy density and robustness. Yet this is precisely where new developments are coming into play.

Electrification: Ideal for urban construction sites

Battery-electric commercial vehicles have made significant progress in recent years. All manufacturers, including Volvo Trucks, Daimler Truck, Scania, MAN, Iveco, Renault and DAF, now offer production-ready electric lorries designed specifically for distribution transport and, increasingly, for use on construction sites.

Their strengths lie primarily in urban environments: locally emission-free, significantly quieter and therefore ideal for construction sites in residential areas or city centres. Typical applications include the transport of building materials, short-haul logistics, or use as electric concrete mixers.

Challenges remain in terms of range, charging infrastructure and integration into existing construction site processes. Nevertheless, it is clear that for many applications involving distances of up to around 200 to 300 kilometres per day, electric lorries are already functional and cost-effective today.

Hydrogen and fuel cells: prospects for heavy-duty applications

For heavy-duty transport and longer distances, hydrogen-powered systems are considered a promising addition. Fuel cell vehicles combine electric drives with short refuelling times and greater ranges. Companies such as Hyundai and Daimler Trucks are driving development forward and are also testing such vehicles in the commercial vehicle segment.

Particularly in construction site environments, where vehicles are often heavily laden and have little downtime, this technology could play an important role in the long term. However, the infrastructure for hydrogen is currently still under development, which limits its widespread use.

The hydrogen engine is of particular significance in this context. This is an internal combustion engine that burns hydrogen instead of fossil fuels. This technology is particularly attractive for heavy commercial vehicles, construction machinery and the off-highway sector, as it is based on proven engine concepts, can be refuelled quickly and is robust.

The Hydrogen Engine Alliance e. V., founded in January 2022, is dedicated to helping the hydrogen engine achieve a breakthrough. A special exhibition on the topic of hydrogen engines held as part of NUFAM 2025 attracted considerable interest.

Alternative fuels: bridging technologies in use

Alongside electric drives, alternative fuels also play an important role. HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), bio-LNG or synthetic fuels make it possible to operate existing diesel vehicles with lower CO₂ emissions – often without major technical modifications.

These solutions are particularly attractive to companies wishing to make their fleets more sustainable in the short term without switching entirely to new vehicle technologies.

Industry-specific requirements as the key

The construction industry is characterised by its extreme demands: changing work sites, unpaved roads, heavy loads and unpredictable operating conditions. Alternative powertrains must prove their worth precisely in these conditions.

That is why many companies are currently relying on a mix of technologies: electric vehicles for predictable, urban operations, alternative fuels for existing fleets, and, looking ahead, hydrogen solutions for heavy-duty long-haul and off-road applications.

Conclusion

The transformation of commercial vehicles in the construction sector has begun – but it is proceeding in a nuanced manner. Battery-electric vehicles are already practical in many scenarios today, whilst hydrogen solutions and synthetic fuels represent important additions.

For construction companies, this means: the future is not one-dimensional. Those who strategically develop their fleet will need to combine different drive technologies – tailored to the operational profile, infrastructure and cost-effectiveness.

NUFAM offers an ideal platform for finding out about current developments, new vehicle concepts and practical solutions in the field of alternative drive systems. Construction site vehicles are planned as a special theme for the 2027 edition of the trade fair.