L 566 H
From the initial idea to an emission-free future
The question of the best drive technology for the future is complex - there is no single ideal solution. Instead, the Liebherr Group uses a variety of approaches to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Liebherr sees enormous potential in the operation of hydrogen combustion engines for large wheel loaders.
Liebherr has reached an important milestone with the L 566 H: the company's first wheel loader to run on hydrogen. This prototype shows how performance and sustainability can be combined - a decisive step towards a low-emission future.
Hydrogen technology
Hydrogen engines allow even large vehicles, which are difficult to electrify due to their high energy requirements, to be operated extremely efficiently and, above all, CO₂-free.
Innovation in motion
The milestones of the L 566 H
Every innovation begins with a vision - and with people who have the courage to turn it into reality. The hydrogen-powered L 566 H large wheel loader is a milestone on the road to an emission-free future. In this section, Liebherr shows the most important stages - from the initial presentation to the practical test in the quarry.
June 2024
Hydrogen premiere in Bischofshofen
In summer 2024, the first prototype of a hydrogen-powered large wheel loader celebrated its premiere at the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen (Austria). However, the spotlight was not only on the H2 wheel loader, but also on the company's own hydrogen refuelling station - located directly on the factory premises and the first of its kind in the province of Salzburg. The combination shows how important holistic solutions are for the decarbonisation of heavy machines. The demonstration of the hydrogen wheel loader emphasises Liebherr's commitment not only to developing emission-free technologies, but also to putting them into practice.
April 2025
World première at Bauma
The L 566 H was presented to an international trade audience for the first time at the largest exhibition for construction machines in Munich (Germany). Interested visitors were able to view the hydrogen-powered large wheel loader at the Liebherr booth outside. With the hydrogen wheel loader, Liebherr is demonstrating that hydrogen is a suitable, climate-neutral solution for heavy construction machines with high energy loads.
May 2025
Practical test of hydrogen
In spring 2025, the L 566 H was working side by side with the production-ready MAN hTGX truck and the AROCS development vehicle from Daimler. All three machines involved had one thing in common: a hydrogen engine. The test operation showed that the hydrogen-powered machines are in no way inferior to their diesel engine counterparts in terms of performance and efficiency - and operate with low emissions and reliability. The joint commitment of Liebherr and representatives of the Hydrogen Engine Alliance made it clear that operations with hydrogen drives are already possible and ready for practical use today.
October 2025
© STRABAG
Start of the multi-year test operation in the quarry
In autumn 2025, Liebherr and STRABAG launched a pioneering pilot project for the decarbonisation of heavy construction machines. The first hydrogen-powered large wheel loader is being tested in daily use at the Kanzelstein quarry in Gratkorn (Austria) over a period of several years. The hydrogen wheel loader is expected to save up to 100 tonnes of CO₂ per year, which corresponds to around 37,500 litres of diesel fuel. A purpose-built hydrogen refuelling station on site enables direct refuelling with green hydrogen.
Mobile hydrogen refuelling
Together with external partners, Liebherr is preparing mobile refuelling facilities to enable construction machines to be refuelled directly on construction sites. This is very important for remote construction sites or machines that are not very mobile.
The advantages of hydrogen at a glance
High performance: large construction machinery such as wheel loaders require enormous amounts of energy during operation, which hydrogen can provide efficiently.
Climate-neutral operation: In future, hydrogen engines will allow zero emissions of greenhouse gases and virtually no nitrogen oxides.
Longer operating times: hydrogen drives allow for continuous operation without long charging times.
Quick and easy refuelling: with a hydrogen refuelling station located directly on the construction site or with mobile refuelling solutions, refuelling is quick and easy.
Proven XPower concept: tested wheel loader quality as the basis for the L 566 H.
