At a gravel plant in Munich, a Liebherr large wheel loader is loading trucks from MAN and Daimler Truck. What appears to be a routine operation is actually a milestone: all three machines are powered by hydrogen engines, operating largely CO2-free and setting new standards for sustainable construction site logistics.
The operation offers a glimpse into the future and proves that low-emission construction sites are possible today. For this milestone to become common practice, a comprehensive H2 infrastructure network is needed. The joint effort by various European manufacturers proves that committed cooperation and the use of synergies can proactively drive the development of climate-friendly technologies.
Liebherr uses hydrogen to accelerate clean job sites
The deployment at the gravel plant demonstrates that hydrogen-powered drivetrains are in no way inferior to their diesel counterparts. The Liebherr L 566 H — the first prototype of a large wheel loader equipped with a Liebherr hydrogen engine, operates alongside the production-ready MAN hTGX truck and a development vehicle based on a Mercedes-Benz Arocs from Daimler Truck. All three machines successfully completed demanding earthmoving and material-handling tasks — reliably and with low emissions.
This joint operation was made possible by the Hydrogen Engine Alliance, a cross industry interest group based in Karlsruhe, Germany. Hydrogen plays a decisive role in enabling low emission mobility, particularly for heavy-duty machinery with high energy demands.
The L 566 H large wheel loader feeds rock material into plants and loads trucks. “What makes it special is that our wheel loader can be used in exactly the same way as a conventional diesel machine. No special deployment planning is required, as the wheel loader can work a full shift and be ready again after a quick refuelling of just 10-15 minutes,” explains Hans Knapp, head of the pre-development and drive technology department at Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen GmbH.
Liebherr presented the prototype and a new, in-house hydrogen filling station to an expert audience for the first time in Bischofshofen, Austria, in the summer of 2024. This presentation was followed by the presentation of the wheel loader at the world’s leading trade fair, Bauma 2025. The L 566 H is one of several hydrogen-powered wheel loaders of this type that Liebherr is testing with various contractors.
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