Hybrid excavator technology showcased by Liebherr

Manufacturer Liebherr unveiled its first hybrid excavator at Bauma 2013 – the concept R 9XX machine, pioneering the company’s diesel/electric powertrain technology, which was developed in-house.

Billed as an example of energy recuperation techniques that will be possible in the future, the 40 tonne R 9XX is powered by a 160kW Liebherr engine together with hydraulic and electrical energy storage devices.

A pressure reservoir and a generator are used to recover hydraulic energy. This combination of electrical and hydraulic power train is said to reduce fuel consumption, but at the same time increase the excavator’s load handling performance.

Usually, a 40 tonne class machine would be powered by a 200kW engine at least, according to Liebherr.

Liebherr also showcased a US Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IV-compliant dozer – a machine that will be released at the end of this year to comply with the 2014 emissions legislation in the US and Europe.

The PR 736 crawler tractor is a 20 to 25 tonne model and the first of Liebherr’s Generation 6 dozers. It also features a hydrostatic transmission and automatic machine control technology.