Liebherr Launches All-Electric 250-Tonne Excavator
The R 9300 G8-E brings an 850 kW electric drivetrain to a production excavator based on the diesel R 9300 G8 platform.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
Liebherr has launched the R 9300 G8-E, a 250-tonne all-electric production excavator. The machine is based on the R 9300 G8 platform and carries over the same hydraulic power and bucket capacity as its diesel counterpart.
Why it matters
The launch moves electric mining excavators from limited conversions into regular production. Liebherr began converting diesel-powered mining excavators to electric in limited numbers in 2024, and the R 9300 G8-E extends that experience into a standard product line.
The R 9300 G8-E has an 850 kW (~1,140 hp) electric drivetrain built to IEC standards and supports 6-6.6 kV power supplies. Its bucket capacity is 1.8 tonnes per cubic meter (~1.5 short tons per cubic yard), matching the diesel version.
The players
Liebherr
Liebherr is a German manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, including large hydraulic excavators.
The details
The R 9300 G8-E is primarily driven and operated with grid power, with on-board batteries also fitted. It comes with Liebherr Power Efficiency - Hydraulic Control as standard and is compatible with Liebherr IoMine technology products. Customers can optionally add Liebherr's autonomous cable reel solution.
Timeline
2024: Liebherr began converting diesel-powered mining excavators to electric in limited numbers.
November 6, 2026: Liebherr announced the R 9300 G8-E.
The Tech Race
The R 9300 G8-E extends Liebherr's 2024 program of converting diesel mining excavators to electric from limited numbers into a standard production model. It moves the company's electric mining work from pilot conversions toward a line customers can order directly.
For mining operators, the electric drivetrain may reduce maintenance requirements and operating costs in certain applications and site conditions. The electric drivetrain may also contribute to a safer working environment by reducing cab vibration.
The takeaway
Electric drive is moving from prototype conversions into standard heavy equipment, which means mining operators can increasingly specify electric machines rather than retrofit them. Buyers should weigh grid access at the site against the projected maintenance and operating savings.
Further reading
For more on battery-powered machinery, see Electric Vehicles.
