Liebherr lately reported a a hit take a look at of the “global’s first prototype huge wheel loader with a hydrogen engine.”
The take a look at of the L 566 H happened at a gravel plant in Munich, Germany, and incorporated off-road hydrogen-powered vehicles from Daimler and MAN.
“What makes it particular is that our wheel loader can be utilized in precisely the similar method as a standard diesel device,” says Hans Knapp, head of the Pre-Construction and Pressure Era Division at Liebherr. “No particular deployment making plans is needed, because the wheel loader can paintings a complete shift and be in a position once more after a handy guide a rough refueling of simply 10-Quarter-hour.”
Liebherr has launched few information about the L 566 H. The corporate says it’s in accordance with its diesel L 566 wheel loader. The 272-horsepower diesel model has an working weight of 51,700 to 58,310 kilos and a most bucket capability of 15.7 cubic yards.
A Liebherr L 566 H a lot a hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz Arocs from Daimler.Liebherr
“The deployment on the gravel plant demonstrates impressively that hydrogen-powered drivetrains are under no circumstances not so good as their diesel opposite numbers,” Liebherr says. “… All 3 machines effectively finished difficult earthmoving and material-handling duties — reliably and with low emissions.”
Liebherr unveiled the L 566 H prototype and an in-house hydrogen filling station in Austria in Summer time 2024 and offered it in Germany at 2025 Bauma, the sector’s greatest development apparatus industry display. The loader is considered one of a number of hydrogen-powered fashions the corporate is checking out with shoppers. At Bauma 2022, Liebherr showcased the 50-metric-ton hydrogen-powered R 9XX H2 crawler excavator.
The L 566 H remains to be in its construction level. Liebherr sees hydrogen energy as a long term, viable resolution for 0 carbon-dioxide and occasional nitrogen-oxide emissions on huge heavy-duty apparatus that may be inefficient for battery-electric generation. Hydrogen has a big garage capability for lengthy operations, and its primary emission is water vapor.
“The operation gives a glimpse into the long run and proves that low-emission development websites are already conceivable these days,” Liebherr mentioned in a information unencumber January 15. “For this to turn out to be commonplace observe, a complete H2 infrastructure community is wanted.”
