MASSIVE 600 ton Liebherr mining excavator converted from diesel to electric

https://electrek.co/2026/04/18/massive-600-ton-liebherr-mining-excavator-converted-from-diesel-to-electric/

88 points · 14 comments · view on lemmy.world

14 Comments

hanrahan@slrpnk.net · 13 pts · 142d

we've had massive electric mining machines for a long time, draglines and bucket wheel excavators etc

hell, even diesel trains are diesel electric.

HubertManne@piefed.social · 13 pts · 142d (3 replies)

this is huge. if mining and smelting can be done with eletric and if solar components can completely be done with electric and use less than they produce then we will actually have a sustainable chain. It would be interesting to see how long a panel has to make power to cover its creation.

Individual_Orchid@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 141d (1 reply)
HubertManne@piefed.social · 3 pts · 141d

yeah I think though the metric of at one point they cover themselves completely will be a big one. If its like under a year that would be pretty huge.

MDCCCLV@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 141d

They need to have pass through charging so you can charge and draw power directly from the cord at the same time. They're mostly charge battery only when not in use, which is much harder for long days.

supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 142d (4 replies)

torque unlocked

Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 12 pts · 142d (3 replies)

Essentially, not much has changed, as these big machines are diesel-electric. The solely purpose of the diesel engine was to power an electric generator. This part now has been replaced by batteries.

supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 142d (2 replies)

Well yes but doesn't that meaner easier high impulse short duration bursts of power?

Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 7 pts · 142d (1 reply)

Even before, power was managed between driving and hydraulics so one could be favoured above the other. So it's more only a benefit if both systems need maximum power simultaneously.

supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 142d

Yeah like for a momentary very high energy impulse of energy.

massive_bereavement@fedia.io · 4 pts · 142d
Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 142d (1 reply)

I wonder how many 8hr shifts it can do before it needs charged?

I also wonder how many volts it can take for charging?

Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 4 pts · 141d

Liebherr (so original manufacturer, not LMEL in this article) says their vehicles charge at 6 MW. However, they don't specify the voltage. The battery capacity of a truck is about 3.2 MWh.

cravl@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 140d

Extremely cool. More electric megavehicles will hopefully make regular EVs seem more reasonable to some skeptics.

Also, is it just me or does that cover image look like LEGO at first?