Liebherr debuts hydrogen-powered excavator R 9XX H2
Equipment

Liebherr debuts hydrogen-powered excavator R 9XX H2

As manufacturers race to develop low-emission equipment solutions, Liebherr has announced its first crawler excavator powered by a hydrogen combustion engine, the R 9XX H2.

Based on Liebherr’s generation 8 crawler excavators, the 50-ton R 9XX H2 prototype debuted at the recent Bauma show in Munich, Germany.

At the heart of the machine is Liebherr’s first hydrogen engine, the H966. The engine is based on an intake manifold injection technology, also known as PFI.

Liebherr says that after extensive testing, the results showed strong potential for hydrogen propulsion and the use of such drives in off-road applications. The prototype had the same overall performance as its diesel engine counterpart in terms of power output, engine dynamics and response.

The only difference between the prototype and Liebherr’s conventionally powered excavators is when it comes to refuelling. The prototype excavator and the refuelling station communicate via infrared sensor for fast and safe refuelling using a standardised high-speed protocol.

"The tests carried out in Colmar were extremely convincing," said Henrik Weitze, project manager at Liebherr-France SAS. “This technology promises many advantages for us in the future, especially in the most challenging applications.”

The H2 drive in the R 9XX H2 does not require a permanent energy supply and emits extremely low levels of nitrogen-oxide and carbon-dioxide.

See also:
Takeuchi launches hydraulic hammers compatible with excavators
Ditch Witch unveils the PT37 plough model


As manufacturers race to develop low-emission equipment solutions, Liebherr has announced its first crawler excavator powered by a hydrogen combustion engine, the R 9XX H2. Based on Liebherr’s generation 8 crawler excavators, the 50-ton R 9XX H2 prototype debuted at the recent Bauma show in Munich, Germany. At the heart of the machine is Liebherr’s first hydrogen engine, the H966. The engine is based on an intake manifold injection technology, also known as PFI. Liebherr says that after extensive testing, the results showed strong potential for hydrogen propulsion and the use of such drives in off-road applications. The prototype had the same overall performance as its diesel engine counterpart in terms of power output, engine dynamics and response. The only difference between the prototype and Liebherr’s conventionally powered excavators is when it comes to refuelling. The prototype excavator and the refuelling station communicate via infrared sensor for fast and safe refuelling using a standardised high-speed protocol. The tests carried out in Colmar were extremely convincing, said Henrik Weitze, project manager at Liebherr-France SAS. “This technology promises many advantages for us in the future, especially in the most challenging applications.” The H2 drive in the R 9XX H2 does not require a permanent energy supply and emits extremely low levels of nitrogen-oxide and carbon-dioxide. See also: Takeuchi launches hydraulic hammers compatible with excavatorsDitch Witch unveils the PT37 plough model

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code