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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 GMK5150L-1e and GMK5150XLe models. The ATs are built on the manufacturer’s existing five-axle, 150-ton capacity GMK5150L-1 and GMK5150XL cranes while featuring a new, fully electrified superstructure.
Up to a full day of emissions-free power is possible with the new Grove models. The battery pack enables approximately five hours of lifting. When the crane is connected to the grid, crane operation can be extended to approximately 20 hours without compromising speed or capacity.
At the heart of the new Grove hybrid cranes is a battery pack with 180 kWh of energy that can be charged from the grid with either AC or DC power, or from a 170-kW generator integrated into the carrier. This set up also allows charging while driving and the cranes can be operated while charging if there is infrastructure at the jobsite.
To eliminate any negative impact on lifting performance, the new Grove cranes feature the same main booms as their diesel model counterparts and use the same load charts. There are also no significant changes to the driveline, the MEGATRAK independent suspension system with disc brakes, the Manitowoc Crane Control System (CCS) with boom configurator mode and the company’s flexible outrigger positioning system MAXbase.
“These new plug-in hybrid cranes deliver sustainable lifting, and they can even drive to the jobsite using HVO fuel to power their Mercedes-Benz engines, which can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%,” said Florian Peters, senior product manager for AT cranes at Manitowoc. “Then, they can set up and use electricity to handle lifting tasks without producing harmful emissions, and there’s also a massive reduction in noise pollution.”
Fully Electric
Tadano’s EVOLT eGR-1000XLL-1 delivers the same lifting capability as the manufacturer’s GR-1000XLL-4 100-ton rough terrain crane while offering up to seven hours of lifting or up to five hours of lifting plus 5.5 miles of jobsite travel with its on-board battery pack. The crane is powered entirely by lithium-ion batteries for both transportation and lifting.
The EVOLT eGR-1000XLL-1 can be charged using standard 480 VAC grid power or a CCS1 rapid charging system. When using 3-phase 480V normal charging with capacity 60A, it takes 4.5 to 5.5 hours to fully charge the battery and rapid charging capabilities can complete a full charge in two to three hours. Regenerative braking also enhances battery longevity and a plug-in capability provides for continuous crane operation.
The Tadano Lift Visualizer system on the EVOLT eGR-1000XLL-1 utilizes a suspended load monitoring camera, allowing operators to see loads directly from above. The Lift Visualizer pulls critical information from the AML control system, including radius, capacities and load, and displays it on a video screen for the operator.
The EVOLT App is also available for use with the eGR-1000XLL-1 rough terrain model. To support jobsite operations, it displays battery status, operating history and distance to the destination.
With an increasing number of jurisdictions enacting stricter environmental requirements on machinery, manufacturers are helping crane operators meet that challenge with new electrically powered designs. In the end, those new options are combining sustainability with maximum efficiency.
