Chinese equipment brand LiuGong is putting its 25-ton 870HE electric wheel loader to work at a STRABAG quarry in Slovenia, proving that electric vehicles can get the job done without the sky-high fuel costs associated with fossil fuels.
Fuel consumption at STRABAG’s Slovenian quarry operations is both the largest contributor to the company’s carbon footprint and one of its most significant operating costs. Given the company’s dual goals of achieving carbon neutrality target by 2040 and staying profitable long enough to make it to 2040, a move to 100% electrified equipment is seriously being considered.
To that end, STRABAG is testing one of LiuGong’s big electric loaders all summer to evaluate how the zero-emission solution can be successfully integrated into its existing operations.
“Decarbonising our construction machinery is a key step in reducing our emissions,” explains Lutz Müller, Technical Manager Aggregates and Concrete, STRABAG. “The electric wheel loader from LiuGong shows how low-emission operation and high performance can be successfully combined at our quarries.”
With the strait of Hormuz still effectively closed some (checks notes) 97 days after the start of the US/Iran war (and with no real return to “normalized” fuel production in sight), I’m guessing this pilot is going to turn into an order somewhat sooner than later.
The machine, itself
870HE electric wheel loader; via LiuGong.
Proudly on display at last year’s bauma expo, LiuGong’s 870HE packs by a fully integrated (as opposed to swappable) 423 kWh LFP CATL battery that sends electrons to a 210 kW (~280 hp) electric motor that’s good enough to offer 7,500 kg rated load capacity in its standard 4.7 cubic meter bucket.
The machine can handle DC fast charging at speeds up to 300 kW, which can boost the loader’s battery from 10-80% charge in just under an hour. No word on pricing.
Electrek’s Take
4280DE electric motor grader; via LiuGong.
If you’ve never heard of LiuGong, that’s OK. The brand is making waves in Europe right now, but it’s already one of the biggest players in the heavy equipment space globally. Most important for our North American readers, however, is probably the fact that the company is selling equipment in the US. That means you’ll probably be seeing the company’s battery-powered construction equipment on a job site near you soon enough.
SOURCE | IMAGES: LiuGong.
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