Bristol-based skip hire business Bateman Skips has integrated Engine Carbon Clean technology into its operations. The developed solution is being delivered by sister RSK Group company 1stinrail and will cut emissions and improve the fuel efficiency of its fleet of skip loaders, roll-on roll-off skips, tipper vehicles and mobile plant.
The Advanced Hydrogen Technologies (AHT) owned technology was tested by AHT and K2C Rail in a 12-week trial in November 2024 across 41 vehicles for 1stinrail. 1stinrail Operations Director Alan Maye said: “The testing assessed performance, usability and operational fit in day-to-day working conditions. The trial delivered an average 19.52% reduction in CO₂ and fuel consumption, demonstrating the potential for immediate carbon and cost savings without disrupting fleet availability. Following the successful pilot, Bateman Skips has now integrated the technology into its fleet, embedding it as a practical, scalable measure to cut emissions and improve fuel efficiency across its operations.”
Bateman Skips Managing Director Paul Rann said: “We expect to see reduction in our fuel drawings and accompanying environmental advantages, including reductions in associated greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Integrating this technology into Bateman Skips’ everyday operations will be the first time the fleet has had the benefit of this kind of treatment.
“Implementing this to our fleet of 16 skip trucks, 3 tippers, 1 roll-on roll-off skip, 2 360° excavators, 2 loading shovels and a material handler will be dispatched while these vehicles are off road at the end of the shift. A team of engineers will come in and perform an initial treatment followed by periodic follow-ups to ensure optimal benefit.”
Paul said the technology offers an opportunity to provide a waste solution with reduced emissions outputs. “Our lorries will be producing fewer carbon emissions and less particulate matter on journeys with this ongoing treatment. Aside from the reduction in carbon emissions, the process itself is environmentally friendly.
“The process takes only 60 minutes, so fits into the service schedule, and utilises the combustion engine’s air intake, replacing the air with chemically free hydrogen generated on-site from just tap water. The cycle takes about 45 minutes and draws the hydrogen in at the engine’s normal rate, cleaning the inside and breaking down the carbon deposits, helping the engine run more efficiently and reducing emissions out of the tailpipe.”
Alan noted that beyond the measured fuel and environmental savings, 1stinrail is already seeing operational benefits through reduced unscheduled maintenance, including fewer issues associated with diesel particulate filter (DPF) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve performance. To maintain optimal results and support consistent fleet performance, a typical vehicle requires around four treatments per year.
The team has also tested the technology in the rail sector, including a successful application to a 1962 Class 08 locomotive at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) research centre. In parallel, a rail-maintenance tamper engine has successfully completed a trial delivering a 15.79% average reduction in CO₂ and fuel consumption.
Alan said: “Following the initial Class 08 work, the locomotive has now completed over 12 months of monitored results, delivering a 16.78% average saving overall. Crucially, the data shows a 29.41% reduction at idle, and given these vehicles spend a significant portion of the working day operating at idle and low revs, the potential environmental benefit is substantial.”
1stinrail Managing Director Stephen Jackson added: “Our trials demonstrate the versatility of this technology, from road fleets through to specialist on-track plant, offering benefit to anything with a combustion engine. The strong idle performance is particularly important for industrial applications, where duty cycles can be dominated by low-rev operation.”