German crane manufacturer Liebherr has launched its 50-tonne lifting capacity LTC 1050-3.1 compact crane, which features an electrical drive unit.
“We want to be able to offer our customers full crane performance even with the alternative electric power unit. The LTC 1050-3.1 still has a conventional internal combustion engine, powered by diesel or HVO, for driving on roads and for crane operations. However, as an alternative it also has an electric power unit for crane operations so that it generates zero emissions,” said Dr Ulrich Hamme, technical director at Liebherr-Werk Ehingen.
Either the engine or the electric motor can be selected in crane mode depending on the conditions for the job. The latter reduces both air and noise emissions to a minimum. This also means that the machine is suitable for use in noise-sensitive areas and in zero-emission areas, he added.
The newly developed 72 kW electric power unit enables the crane to be operated with almost the same performance as using the six-cylinder engine. The electric motor uses the existing hydraulic pump, which is mounted direct on the powershift transmission on the conventional LTC 1050-3.1, to transfer the power to the consumers in the crane superstructure.
