Liebherr Puts a 250-Tonne Electric Excavator Into Full Production

Liebherr has flipped the switch on a new heavy hitter: the R 9300 G8-E, a 250-tonne electric mining excavator that moves from limited trials into regular production. The German equipment giant built it on the proven R 9300 G8 platform, swapping diesel for an 850 kW (about 1,140 hp) electric drivetrain engineered to IEC standards. It runs on 6–6.6 kV power supplies.

The company says customers give up nothing on muscle. The electric setup delivers the same hydraulic power and bucket capacity as the diesel version — 1.8 tonnes per cubic meter, or roughly 1.5 short tons per cubic yard. Liebherr has been converting diesel mining excavators to electric in small numbers since 2024, and those machines moved millions of tons of dirt while saving millions of dollars in fuel and maintenance. Now that testing experience becomes production practice.

Power comes primarily from the grid, with on-board batteries on hand, so operators aren't stuck waiting on charging cycles — the excavator can keep digging around the clock as long as the grid holds up. Liebherr also offers an optional autonomous cable reel to manage the power cable and keep the machine mobile on site.

The brains match the brawn. Liebherr Power Efficiency – Hydraulic Control comes standard, adapting hydraulic power to the machine's load profile and trimming overall engine load. Thanks to its Generation 8 electronic architecture, the R 9300 G8-E plugs into Liebherr's IoMine lineup: excavator Assistance Systems, the semi-autonomous Bucket Filling Assistant, the Skyview vision system and the Data View visualization tool.

Fewer moving parts in the drivetrain mean fewer things to break, and Liebherr says that can cut maintenance requirements and operating costs in certain applications and site conditions. The electric drive also quiets the cab and kills tailpipe emissions, while reduced vibration makes life easier on operators — less fatigue, and potentially a safer workplace for everyone around the machine.

Liebherr hasn't shared pricing or a delivery timeline yet, so mine operators eyeing an upgrade will have to talk to the company directly.