Liebherr has announced a pilot project for the world's first large hydrogen fuel-powered wheel loader. It will be utilized in the Kanzelstein quarry in Gratkorn, Austria.
The new initiative aims to test a pilot concept developed by Liebherr and STRABAG (the largest construction company in Austria). STRABAG will employ the prototype L 566 H front loader in a two-year testing program.
This Liebherr wheel loader does not operate on hydrogen fuel cells. Instead, it is equipped with a specially modified internal combustion engine that burns hydrogen instead of diesel. The companies estimate that such an engine could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 100 tons annually, equivalent to about 37,500 liters of diesel fuel burned.
“This technology... allows large vehicles, which are difficult to electrify due to their high energy requirements, to operate without carbon dioxide emissions,” explains Dr. Herbert Pfab, CTO of Liebherr.
The project developers have also planned the refueling infrastructure. A hydrogen refueling station provided by Energie Steiermark will supply the clean hydrogen needed to fuel the wheel loader directly at the quarry.
Earlier this year, MAN Trucks CEO Alexander Vlaskamp stated:
“It’s one thing to have the technology, and another to have that technology be viable. ‘Green’ hydrogen is not available for transport, and there’s no point in switching from diesel to hydrogen if the energy source is not sustainable.”
This is a concern, as using hydrogen as fuel does not currently offer significant advantages in reducing carbon emissions. This is because the overwhelming majority of the 90 million tons produced is derived from natural gas and fossil fuels.
Source: electrek
Comments (0)
There are no comments for now