Liebherr has achieved a significant milestone by converting one of its R 9400 excavators from a traditional diesel powertrain to an electric one, marking the first time in the company's 40-year history. This re-powered mining machine was put into operation at Fortescue's Christmas Creek mine site in Western Australia, and notably, the conversion took place within the standard service life of the excavator.
Oliver Weiss, Executive Vice President of R&D, Engineering, and Manufacturing for Liebherr Mining, highlighted that the modular design of Liebherr equipment allows for the repowering of existing diesel excavators with new zero-emission configurations, such as electric powertrains. This adaptability ensures that diesel equipment purchased today remains future-proofed for years to come, contributing to the Liebherr Zero Emission Mining Program's key strategy of facilitating a smooth transition from traditional to decarbonized mining fleets for customers.
Liebherr collaborated with mining partner Fortescue to execute the repower, with engineers from both companies addressing the challenges posed by everyday mining operations. The actual upgrades were conducted at Liebherr-Australia's Perth branch in Western Australia.
Liebherr repowered R 9400 excavator
"This is an exciting milestone for Liebherr and Fortescue as we work together to develop the zero emission solutions the world needs to move away from fossil fuels," says Dino Otranto, CEO of Fortescue Metals. "Our cooperation with Liebherr is an illustration of genuine teamwork and how heavy industry can cooperate to decarbonize and eradicate fossil fuels."
The modified R 9400 can be directly linked to the grid or to a large-scale BESS as a continuous power supply. For the time being, Fortescue's hydrogen-fueled Offboard Power Unit (OPU), which is presently undergoing site-based testing, is attached to the excavator.
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