Liebherr’s InnovationLab looks to the future of power

Construction OEM Liebherr has unveiled an array of alternative drive concepts within its InnovationLab area, on day one of Bauma 2022 in Munich.

Liebherr’s H966 hydrogen engine

While the German-Swiss multinational has again brought a huge number of machines to its 15,000m² outdoor stand, the current and ‘near future’ drives being presented within its InnovationLab are proving to be a highlight.

The company says it is pursuing a ‘technology-open’ approach as it drives towards zero-emission powertrains, but adds that its approach will include the future use of the internal combustion engine.

Dr Ingo Wintruff, managing director of Liebherr’s Combustion Engine Business, said, “We are convinced that the transformation will go into three main parts,” he said. “There is, first of all, the full electric battery drive based on renewable energy. Then we have the fuel cell, which is covered in many cases with batteries and it’s based on green hydrogen.

“And we are sure there is also in the future the internal combustion engine, which can be based on different CO2-neutral fuels.”

On the stand today, Liebherr’s Jurgen Appel described the company’s research into possible alternative drives, saying, “We have machines where battery-electric drive is most suitable and have the best performance, in terms of CO2 emissions.

“But we need to have in our mind, the availability of different energy carriers.”

One of the latest Liebherr advances on display at Bauma is the Liduro Power Port (LPO), a battery-based mobile energy storage system, which allows electrified machines and equipment to be operated or charged locally, with constant power output of up to 120kW.

The system can charge multiple machines at the same time and be used as a grid supply for sites that have none available.

Liebherr is also showing two hydrogen engine prototypes, each employing different hydrogen injection technologies.

Bauma visitors can see the six-cylinder H966 hydrogen engine, for example, within the InnovationLab at Bauma.

Visit Liebherr’s Bauma booth at FM.809-813