Technology Spotlight
By Seth Skydel
Electric Drive Systems
Powerful Designs
Electric drive systems are coming to mobile cranes
Zero emissions, full power” is how Liebherr described the LTM 1150- 5.4E, the company’ s first electrically driven mobile crane. A variant of the LTM 1150-5.4, the electric drive model allows crane movements to be performed emissions-free and with reduced noise.
With an integrated battery, the LTM 1150-5.4E can work autonomously for up to four hours without a power connection. In addition, with the battery acting as a buffer, a low connected load on a jobsite is sufficient to utilize the crane’ s full power. The electric drive system offers virtually the same performance as a six-cylinder internal combustion engine.
In operation, the new Liebherr offers operators a choice between a combustion engine or a 111 kW, water-cooled electric motor for power. The electric motor’ s distributor gear is integrated between the chassis transfer gearbox and the gear shafts to the superstructure, enabling the operator to switch between diesel-hydraulic power and electro-hydraulic power.
On- and off-road, the crane can be powered by a 544-horsepower internal combustion engine that meets Stage 5 exhaust emissions standards. The engine is also fully compatible with hydrogenated vegetable oil( HVO).
In its electric mode, the LTM 1150-5.4E motor powers the gear shaft to the pump transfer gearbox in the superstructure
via a distributor gear. The battery pack is attached to the rear of the vehicle.
Charging for the LTM 1150-5.4E battery can be provided using a CEE high-current plug with 16, 32 or 64 amps and up to 44 kW of power or via a CCS plug for fast charging at up to 80 kW.
Hybrid AT
New plug-in hybrid all-terrain( AT) cranes from Manitowoc include Grove
In its electric mode, the Liebherr LTM 1150-5.4E motor powers the gear shaft to the pump transfer gearbox in the superstructure via a distributor gear. The battery pack is attached to the rear of the vehicle.
Hydrogen Future
The new Liebherr LTM 1150-5.4E, the company’ s first electrically driven mobile crane, can work autonomously for up to four hours without a power connection.
The H9X4 hydrogen engine may still be under development at Liebherr, the company noted, but it is already producing promising and encouraging results in terms of CO2 and nitrogen oxides( NOx) emissions. The nine-liter, four-cylinder engine with port-fuel injection( PFI) technology, Liebherr reported, will feature comparable thermal and mechanical vehicle interfaces similar to current diesel engine designs.
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May 2025 • www. cranehotline. com