Diesel hydrostatic vs electric VFD shredder: €1.50/L diesel vs €0.15/kWh electricity. Energy TCO over 10,000 hours, infrastructure prerequisites, emission compliance, and site mobility trade-offs analyzed.
~€375,000 fuel over 10,000 hrs
Diesel fuel consumption: 25–35 L/h at full load (depending on model). At €1.50/L: €37.50–€52.50/hour. Over 10,000 operating hours: €375,000–€525,000 in fuel costs alone. Per-ton energy cost: €1.50–€2.10 (at 25 t/h throughput). Fuel price volatility adds ±15–20% uncertainty to long-term cost projections. Diesel costs are the single largest OPEX component for mobile shredders, typically 40–50% of total operating cost.
~€150,000 electricity over 10,000 hrs
Electric motor power consumption: 200–250 kW at full load. VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) optimizes motor speed to match load, reducing energy waste by 15–25% vs direct-on-line starting. At €0.15/kWh: €30.00–€37.50/hour. Over 10,000 operating hours: €300,000–€375,000. However, VFD efficiency gains reduce actual consumption to €150,000–€262,500 in typical C&D recycling duty cycles (50–70% average load factor). Per-ton energy cost: €0.42–€0.66 — 3–5× cheaper than diesel. Electricity pricing is stable and predictable with industrial contracts.
ARJES EDGE →Electric VFD delivers 3–5× lower energy cost per ton vs diesel. Over 10,000 hours, the energy savings reach €112,500–€375,000. However, this advantage requires grid infrastructure — which is not available on every site. The ARJES E-series (impaktor-250-e-evo-ii, impaktor-350-e-evo-ii) offers electric VFD for fixed-installation scenarios.
Zero site infrastructure required
The diesel-hydrostatic ARJES IMPAKTOR requires zero site infrastructure beyond a flat surface for operation. No grid connection, no substation, no cable routing, no electrical permits. The machine arrives on a lowboy trailer, is commissioned within 2–4 hours, and begins processing immediately. On greenfield demolition sites, remote quarries, or temporary construction projects, this is the only viable option. The self-contained power unit (diesel engine + hydraulic pumps) provides complete operational independence.
400–500 kW substation required
An electric VFD shredder requires a 400–500 kW industrial power connection. This means: a dedicated substation (or transformer upgrade), cable routing from the point of connection to the machine, electrical permits and inspection, and a fixed installation pad. The substation alone costs €80,000–€150,000 and requires 4–12 weeks for utility approval and installation. On sites without existing heavy industrial power, the infrastructure CAPEX and lead time make electric VFD impractical for short-term projects. The cable tether also limits the machine to a fixed operating radius.
ARJES EDGE →ARJES diesel-hydrostatic machines offer true zero-infrastructure deployment. On greenfield demolition sites, remote quarries, and short-term projects, the diesel option is the only viable choice. The ARJES E-series (electric VFD) complements the lineup for fixed-installation scenarios where grid power is available.
SCR/DPF, oil, filters, Stage V
Diesel engines require a structured maintenance regime: oil changes every 500 mot-hours, hydraulic oil every 2,000 hours, fuel filters every 500 hours, and SCR/DPF system maintenance. EU Stage V emission compliance requires: Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) with AdBlue/DEF, Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) with periodic regeneration, and onboard diagnostics. Annual maintenance cost: €15,000–€25,000. The diesel engine produces CO2, NOx, and particulate emissions — a growing regulatory concern in EU urban zones (LEZ/ZEZ). In Zero Emission Zones (emerging 2025–2030), diesel equipment may face operational restrictions.
Zero exhaust, no SCR/DPF, minimal filters
Electric VFD motors produce zero exhaust emissions — no CO2, no NOx, no particulate matter at the point of operation. This eliminates the entire SCR/DPF maintenance chain: no AdBlue consumption, no DPF regeneration cycles, no emission diagnostics. Maintenance is limited to: bearing lubrication every 5,000 hours, VFD cooling fan replacement every 15,000 hours, and periodic insulation testing. Annual maintenance cost: €3,000–€6,000 — 60–80% lower than diesel. Electric machines are fully compliant with current and emerging Zero Emission Zone regulations, making them future-proof for urban and indoor applications.
ARJES EDGE →ARJES offers both diesel and electric models to match the site's regulatory environment. The E-series (impaktor-250-e-evo-ii, impaktor-350-e-evo-ii) provides zero-emission VFD processing for urban and indoor applications, while the diesel IMPAKTOR 850/1000/1250 delivers unmatched mobility for greenfield and remote sites. A dual-fleet strategy maximizes compliance across all project types.
Self-propelled crawler / towable
The ARJES IMPAKTOR 850/1000/1250 on crawler tracks is self-propelled — it can reposition within a site in minutes, without crane assistance. Relocation between sites requires a lowboy trailer and takes 1–2 days (demobilize → transport → recommission). The machine can process multiple stockpiles across a large demolition site without cable management. On a 50-hectare demolition project, the crawler shredder can follow the demolition front, processing material at the point of generation. This eliminates the need for internal site transport of raw material.
Fixed location, cable tethered
An electric VFD shredder is permanently tethered to its power source by a high-voltage cable (typically 400V 3-phase). The operating radius is limited to the cable length — typically 30–50 m from the connection point. Relocating the machine requires: electrician disconnection, cable re-routing, new foundation pad preparation, and re-commissioning. This is a 2–5 day process per relocation. For a fixed recycling plant with a dedicated processing bay, this is acceptable. For multi-site operations, the cable tether is a significant operational constraint.
ARJES EDGE →ARJES crawler-mounted diesel shredders provide unmatched site mobility — repositioning within a site in minutes, relocating between sites in 1–2 days. The electric E-series is designed for fixed-installation scenarios where the machine stays in one processing bay. For operators managing multiple sites, the diesel IMPAKTOR is the mobility-first choice.
This duel has no single winner — the optimal energy strategy depends on the project phase and operational context. Phase 1 (Diesel): Enter the market with a mobile ARJES IMPAKTOR on crawler tracks. Zero infrastructure requirements, self-propelled mobility, and rapid deployment make it the ideal entry strategy for greenfield demolition sites, remote quarries, and multi-site operations. The diesel IMPAKTOR 850/1000/1250 is the versatile workhorse. Phase 2 (Electric VFD): Deploy an ARJES E-series shredder (impaktor-250-e-evo-ii or impaktor-350-e-evo-ii) at a fixed processing location where: (a) grid power is available, (b) the site has a 5+ year operational horizon, and (c) emission regulations require zero-exhaust operation. The 3–5× energy cost savings and 60–80% lower maintenance justify the infrastructure investment. The dual-fleet strategy — diesel for mobility, electric for fixed efficiency — maximizes ROI across all project types.
Deploy diesel-hydrostatic ARJES IMPAKTOR for mobile on-site processing
Add electric VFD ARJES E-series for fixed-installation processing
€300,000 logistics savings + €400,000 primary aggregate substitution
3x fewer truck trips from city center, noise ≤80 dB
Tipping Fee revenue + graded aggregate sales at industrial scale
Industrial solution pages substantively discussed in this strategic comparison. Cross-link for engineering specifications, throughput data, and verified field metrics.
Processing of oversized mining tires (40.00R57 to 59/80R63) into steel cord, RTE chip for road bitumen modification, and TDF for cement kilns. Direct cold shear at 380 kN without pre-cutting.
C&D waste shredders for construction and demolition waste recycling — concrete, wood, metal, and mixed debris. Maximum landfill diversion with multi-material revenue streams.
Size reduction and liberation of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap. Integrated magnetic separation for clean metal streams.
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