The Liebherr R 996 excavator, previously powered by diesel, has been converted to electric power. The 12-meter-tall, 650-ton machine is used by Lloyds Metals and Energy at one of its facilities in India. Electrek reports that this is the first time in India such large-scale equipment has been converted to run entirely without diesel.
The modernization involved more than replacing the engine. Lloyds Metals and Energy engineers redesigned the excavator’s power architecture, revising its supply system and controls as part of a broader safety upgrade. The company carried out the work in-house at the Thriveni Rebuild Centre, a facility associated with rebuilding heavy earth-moving machinery and converting equipment to electric operation.
The project fits into a broader fleet strategy. Company information lists 88 electric equipment units operated by Lloyds Metals and Energy. The company has also pursued alternatives to conventional diesel, including converting a 100-ton dumper to an LNG hybrid. That vehicle is a hybrid, not a fully electric machine, showing that mining fleets can adopt different technologies to move away from diesel.
In its diesel version, the Liebherr R 996 can move up to 70 tons of material per cycle with its 36-cubic-meter bucket. Its power reaches 3,000 horsepower. In mining, equipment operates in harsh conditions and almost without interruption, making reliability and efficiency critical. Electric mining excavators can draw power through different arrangements, including fixed mains connections and cable supply. Electrification does not necessarily mean battery-only operation.
The switch to electricity is intended to reduce the machine’s environmental footprint and operating costs, including its dependence on diesel fuel. Lloyds’ fleet strategy is framed around the proposition that “an electric mine cuts costs and emissions.” The scale of any savings or emissions reduction depends on operating conditions, especially the electricity supply and duty cycle.
A technological challenge
Converting the Liebherr R 996 into an electric machine required impressive investment and technical expertise. Major components had to be adapted to new energy sources, while the conversion also had to deliver stable performance under heavy loads and protect personnel. Retrofitting a machine in-house differs from buying a factory-built electric excavator: it means adapting an existing machine and its systems to work with a different power arrangement.
Lloyds Metals and Energy CEO B. Prabhakaran said the project is an attempt to rethink the future of the entire mining industry, beyond electrifying a single machine. The company sees the switch to electricity as part of its long-term development strategy.
Significance for the Industry
The Liebherr R 996 modernization coincides with a global trend: more heavy-machinery manufacturers are seeking ways to move from diesel to electricity and automation. Electric mining excavators come in several forms, including cable-connected and mains-powered models. Liebherr’s electric range includes the R 992 E and R 998 SME-E, while other manufacturers also offer electric or cable-powered machines. In India, the project became part of the Make in India government program, which aims to develop domestic industrial technologies and reduce dependence on imports.
Detailed technical specifications for the electric version have not yet been disclosed. The reported conversion is an example of in-house equipment electrification, alongside Lloyds’ wider electric fleet and its LNG-hybrid dumper project. A machine of this scale could prompt other companies to consider similar upgrades. Over time, such conversions could reduce environmental impact and improve the economic efficiency of mining enterprises.
Electrifying heavy machinery is complex and costly, but Lloyds Metals and Energy’s project shows that these conversions are already taking place. If the trend continues, more mining and construction equipment could be electrified in the coming years.
