Electric drives on the rise

Between 2019 and 2025, Liebherr recorded a significant increase of 400% in its electric drive mobile harbour cranes. This substantial rise in demand underlines the clear movement within the industry towards integrating more sustainable technologies in port operations.

‘Our clients have benefitted from the integration of electric drives into our product range for over two decades’, says Franz Findel, Product Manager at Liebherr-Rostock GmbH. ‘Beyond the considerable reduction in CO₂ emissions and noise levels, e-drives require minimal consumables and feature fewer moving parts – significantly reducing maintenance demands and associated costs. These advantages contribute directly to improved overall efficiency and operational reliability, without sacrificing speed or lifting capacity.’

The company further explains that during heavy lift operations, cranes often experience idle periods when no load is being moved. In these moments, opting for an e-powered drive offers a significantly more sustainable solution. While a diesel engine continues to emit approximately 24 kg of CO₂ per hour even when idling, the e-drive consumes no extra energy during these pauses. When powered by renewable energy sources, the environmental benefits are even greater – handling operations at the quayside with an electric Liebherr mobile harbour crane can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 100 kg per hour compared with a diesel driven mobile harbour crane.