Doosan Bobcat CEO: We have to look at hydrogen

Scott Park, Doosan Bobcat CEO and President

Doosan Bobcat is looking at hydrogen power for its machines as key barriers to its implementation are being reduced, says Scott Park, President and CEO of Doosan Bobcat.

Speaking to International Construction magazine for an in-depth interview that will appear in the November issue of the magazine, Park admitted that hydrogen power was on the agenda for the compact equipment specialist.

“Clearly, we have to look at hydrogen, and we are,” he said, adding that the two biggest barriers to hydrogen power are its availability and distribution – something that governments are working on.

“It looks like governments around the world are jumping on the bandwagon to support the availability of hydrogen in itself and then the distribution, which are the two most difficult pieces to take care of. The rest of the picture, we’re going to have to figure that out.”

The OEM is investing heavily into electric equipment, but Park says that until the cost of electric machines are the same, or similar, to internal combustion powered machines then adoption rates will struggle.

“We do have customers that don’t mind paying the extra dollar to get a piece of equipment that has no emissions. Zero emissions are something that they fully believe in, and so they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak. But that’s not a majority of customers, it is a small minority.”

Park says that regulation is the key to bring down the cost. “If you look at the automotive industry, or at some other industries, true acceleration really comes from regulation, whether it’s regulation on the requirement for non-emissions engines or a regulation which means a subsidy into that product category that really brings that picture together.”

The full interview with Scott Park, President and CEO of Doosan Bobcat, will be in the November issue of International Construction magazine. Click here to sign up to receive your copy for free.