What is the cost of compressed air?
The cost of compressed air goes beyond the price of the compressor. In other words: initial investment isn’t everything. It’s not even the most important contributor to the cost of compressed air: energy is. About 70-80% of the cost of compressed air goes to the fuel or electricity the machine uses.
The larger the compressor, the more diesel it consumes and the more significant the savings can be when you opt for a fuel-efficient machine. Drilling a hole with a large compressor will easily consume 500 liter (130 gallons) of diesel. That is a lot of fuel over the lifetime of your compressor…
In short, these parameters determine the cost of compressed air:
- Fuel or electricity
- Service costs (working hours, spare parts, consumables)
- Initial investment
- Other costs, such as transport, insurance etc.
How can you save on your operational costs?
1. Go for an electric compressor.
![E-Air at Arentis]()
1. Go for an electric compressor.
Whenever you have a power supply on-site, an electric compressor is more efficient than a diesel unit. That’s a matter of science: an electric motor is better at driving a compressor element than an engine. Therefore, an electric compressor is a size smaller than its diesel equivalent.
On top of that the price of electricity is lower than diesel in most regions of the world.
Find out if an electric compressor could be right for you.
Whenever you have a power supply on-site, an electric compressor is more efficient than a diesel unit. That’s a matter of science: an electric motor is better at driving a compressor element than an engine. Therefore, an electric compressor is a size smaller than its diesel equivalent.
On top of that the price of electricity is lower than diesel in most regions of the world.
Find out if an electric compressor could be right for you.
Whenever you have a power supply on-site, an electric compressor is more efficient than a diesel unit. That’s a matter of science: an electric motor is better at driving a compressor element than an engine. Therefore, an electric compressor is a size smaller than its diesel equivalent.
On top of that the price of electricity is lower than diesel in most regions of the world.
Find out if an electric compressor could be right for you.
2. Choose a fuel-efficient compressor
![Using the controller on an XAS 68]()
2. Choose a fuel-efficient compressor
The larger the engine, the bigger the impact of a fuel-economic engine. The latest generation of engines is usually also the best. But the compressor element’s efficiency, on-board compressor electronics and mechanical components can all contribute to a better fuel consumption as well.
If you have a compressor with variable pressure settings, then you sometimes get more flow at lower pressure settings.
The larger the engine, the bigger the impact of a fuel-economic engine. The latest generation of engines is usually also the best. But the compressor element’s efficiency, on-board compressor electronics and mechanical components can all contribute to a better fuel consumption as well.
If you have a compressor with variable pressure settings, then you sometimes get more flow at lower pressure settings.
The larger the engine, the bigger the impact of a fuel-economic engine. The latest generation of engines is usually also the best. But the compressor element’s efficiency, on-board compressor electronics and mechanical components can all contribute to a better fuel consumption as well.
If you have a compressor with variable pressure settings, then you sometimes get more flow at lower pressure settings.
3. Only burn fuel when you need air.
![DrillAir compressor]()
3. Only burn fuel when you need air.
Smart electronics can economize fuel consumption considerably. For example, technology that slows down the engine when the compressor is in no-load mode, can save up to 50% of diesel during this idling time. On the bigger engines, this offers a good saving on fuel and therefore, on cost.
Smart electronics can economize fuel consumption considerably. For example, technology that slows down the engine when the compressor is in no-load mode, can save up to 50% of diesel during this idling time. On the bigger engines, this offers a good saving on fuel and therefore, on cost.
Smart electronics can economize fuel consumption considerably. For example, technology that slows down the engine when the compressor is in no-load mode, can save up to 50% of diesel during this idling time. On the bigger engines, this offers a good saving on fuel and therefore, on cost.
4. Get regular maintenance done.
![Service technician]()
4. Get regular maintenance done.
Don’t save on service. Keeping your filters clean, checking hoses and connections, regularly changing the oil will make your compressor keep up its performance and avoids bigger, and more costly, repairs.
Don’t save on service. Keeping your filters clean, checking hoses and connections, regularly changing the oil will make your compressor keep up its performance and avoids bigger, and more costly, repairs.
Don’t save on service. Keeping your filters clean, checking hoses and connections, regularly changing the oil will make your compressor keep up its performance and avoids bigger, and more costly, repairs.
