Liebherr L 566 H Whell Loader: H Stand for Hydrogen
Liebherr's L 566 H wheel loader continues field testing procedures. Following its presentation at bauma Munich, it confirms the major earthmoving OEMs' commitment to investing in hydrogen for medium- and heavy-tonnage applications
After the JCB backhoe loader, the roundup of the most talked-about machines that have turned to hydrogen on site continues with Liebherr’s 566 H. It’s a wheel loader bearing the H2 designation, prominently displayed on the rear overhang. This prototype is the company’s first wheel loader to run on hydrogen. We report below the timeline for this demo.
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.
April and May 2025: Bauma and Practical test
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.
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. All of these companies are members of Hydrogen Engine Alliance.
October 2025: 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.
L 566 Hydrogen Wheel Loader Advantages According to Liebherr
- Large construction machinery such as wheel loaders require enormous amounts of energy during operation, which hydrogen can provide efficiently
- Longer operating times: hydrogen drives allow for continuous operation without long charging times
- With a hydrogen refuelling station located directly on the construction site or with mobile refuelling solutions, refuelling is quick and easy
- XPower concept: tested wheel loader quality as the basis for the L 566 H.
About Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen
On 30 April 2026, the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen (Austria) celebrated the production of its 100,000th wheel loader. It is no coincidence that the anniversary machine is an L 550 XPower. The successful XPower series is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
About Hydrogen Engine Alliance
The Hydrogen Engine Alliance – North America (H2EA-NA) is a coalition of industry, academic, and government leaders committed to accelerating the adoption of hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines (H2-ICEs) as a key solution for low-carbon transportation and industrial applications. Modeled after the success of Europe’s Allianz Wasserstoffmotor, we provide a platform for collaboration, innovation, and advocacy in hydrogen engine technology.
