When it comes to business, the contractors in Southeast Asia are most concerned about costs. Let's do a practical calculation. For a one-year comparison (based on my tracking data in the Philippines), we'll consider a medium-sized electric frog-type compactor and a small diesel vibrating plate compactor. First, the purchase cost: electric models usually have an advantage. Second, the operating cost: electricity is much cheaper than diesel, which is an undeniable fact. Especially in regions with fluctuating fuel prices, the cost of electricity is more stable and controllable. The maintenance cost is the part with a huge difference: the electric model is simple in structure, with the core being the motor and bearings, and regular lubricant addition is sufficient, almost maintenance-free; while the diesel engine requires changing the oil, filters, and spark plugs (if it's a gasoline engine), the maintenance is complex and requires high technical skills from the operator.
In terms of labor costs, the electric compactor is lighter in weight, has no starting rope, and no speed-changing operation, which requires less physical effort from the operator, and the training for onboarding is faster, reducing personnel reliance and fatigue. More importantly, there is an opportunity cost: the failure rate of electric equipment is low, the attendance rate is high, and it avoids delays in project schedules due to equipment maintenance. I have come across a small construction team in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, who replaced two old diesel vibratory plate compactors with three electric frog-type compactors. Over the course of a year, fuel costs were saved by approximately 40%, maintenance costs were saved by over 60%, and because of the low noise, they received more scattered projects in the urban area, and their total income increased. This calculation, the astute contractors can easily understand. It represents a more lean and sustainable asset operation mindset.
