Diesel versus electric compressors

The decision between choosing an electric motor or diesel engine to power a portable air compressor has been brought into sharp focus by the latest developments in the road vehicle industry. For instance, both the UK and French governments have proposed to ban the sale of all new diesel and petrol driven cars by 2040 in a bid to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles; and thereby protect public health and that of the planet. Opponents of this measure argue against the strategy on the basis of current battery technology limitations and the possibility that the extra power demand for vehicle recharging would add an unsupportable nationwide increase of around 30 gigawatts to the National Grid’s current peak of 61 gigawatts.