Multevo launches the new Hydrohog road maintenance machine

Multevo Hydrohog in action

Multevo, a UK-based producer of machines for highway maintenance, has introduced the Hydrohog.

The Hydrohog can complete a variety of tasks, including road planing and snow blowing, plus flail mowing and water pumping. These jobs are completed using interchangeable attachments which can be fitted without the need for tools.

The versatile machine is powered by a dual-fuel diesel and hydrogen system. Multevo claims this reduces emissions by up to 40%.

The company states that the choice of a dual-fuel engine was made after 18 months of testing, which ruled out EV technology due to the applications the machine needed to undertake.

“We were determined to create a solution that would bring about a reduction in emissions without being impeded by a loss of performance,” said Multevo director Nick Leadley.

“It was clear early on, electric options had too many limitations for heavy-duty highways applications. Based on our investigations, during road planing operations for instance, the engine/throttle is fully engaged 75% of the time. This creates problems with existing battery technology.”

The H2ICED dual-fuel system injects hydrogen into the diesel combustion engine, displacing 40% of the diesel fuel.

The powerplant was developed through a partnership with hydrogen vehicle technology specialist ULEMCo.

The Hydrohog was developed in support of the ‘Road to Zero Strategy’, which looks to make 50% of all vehicles to be ultra-low emissions by 2030.