Electric drive on the rise

Liebherr, the global leader in mobile harbour crane technology, continues to drive innovation in sustainable port operations. With over 2,000 mobile harbour cranes produced and around 1,600 currently in operation across more than 130 countries, Liebherr has played a key role in advancing electric drive technologies in port handling – continuously refining and expanding its solutions over several decades.

Key regions have embraced electrically driven mobile harbour cranes, underscoring their growing importance and reinforcing Liebherr’s role as a reliable partner in the industry. India leads in adoption, followed closely by Türkiye. In Europe, the Netherlands, France and Poland also demonstrate steady demand for e-drive technology, alongside the United States and the United Kingdom.

Between 2019 and 2025, Liebherr recorded a significant increase of 400 % in its electric drive mobile harbour cranes. This substantial increase 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’, said 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.’ Retrofitting meets the present The Liebherr drive system portfolio continues to evolve with the different infrastructural and regulatory conditions across global port environments. This means that the electric drive is not just an option when building a new crane but can also be retrofitted. Cranes that have operated reliably for years can be converted from a diesel to e-drive, supported by Liebherr’s worldwide customer service network.

In this way, port operators are not only responding to changing circumstances, such as state funding programmes or infrastructure expansion in ports, but are also modernising their equipment to ensure continued successful operation for many years to come – always with a focus on efficiency.

Future-ready solutions for efficient operations

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.

Beyond environmental advantages, the e-drive also delivers economic and operational benefits. Many countries offer attractive subsidies for the adoption of alternative energy technologies, supporting industries in meeting national CO2 reduction targets. Additionally, electric drives require less maintenance than their diesel counterparts – eliminating the need for oil changes, fluid checks and filter replacements. This not only reduces operating costs but also simplifies service routines, making the e-drive a suitable choice for efficient and responsible port operations today.