Liebherr, MAN and Daimler Truck have jointly demonstrated a low-emission construction site at a gravel plant near Munich, where all deployed machines were powered by hydrogen engines. The test deployment, initiated under the Hydrogen Engine Alliance, showcased how hydrogen can serve as an efficient, robust and largely CO₂-free alternative for demanding construction and logistics applications.

The operation featured a Liebherr L 566 H large wheel loader working alongside a production-ready MAN hTGX truck and a hydrogen-powered development vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz Arocs from Daimler Truck. All three machines successfully handled intensive earthmoving and material transport tasks, delivering performance comparable to diesel-powered equipment while significantly reducing emissions.

According to Liebherr, the hydrogen-powered wheel loader can operate a full shift and be refuelled within 10–15 minutes, enabling seamless integration into existing construction workflows. MAN and Daimler Truck highlighted that the hydrogen engines offer familiar driving behaviour, quiet operation and suitability for long ranges and heavy loads.

The demonstration underlines that low-emission construction sites are already achievable in practice. However, wider adoption will depend on the development of a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure and competitive hydrogen pricing across Europe.