U5 tests electric construction vehicles for the first time
24 April 2025
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- First practical test on a major construction site in Hamburg
- Electrically powered wheel loader from LiuGong in continuous use by the U5 Lot 2 consortium of ZÜBLIN and Wayss & Freytag
Premiere on the U5: For the first time, an electrically powered construction vehicle is being used on a major Hamburg construction site. The electric wheel loader from LiuGong is currently in daily use as part of the U5 construction work and is being tested under real conditions. One of the aims of the pilot test is to gain insights into realistic performance and reliability compared to conventional vehicles. To this end, the pilot test will be evaluated after a period of around six weeks.
Klaus Uphoff, Technical Managing Director of HOCHBAHN U5 Projekt GmbH: "With the pilot test, we are continuing to consistently pursue our sustainability strategy. In addition to optimizations in planning and the use of "green" building materials, we are now focusing on construction site logistics. After all, there is great potential here too, particularly in terms of CO2 savings."
In contrast to diesel machines, electrically powered construction vehicles are emission-free during operation. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, they also help to improve air quality and reduce noise emissions and vibrations on site. This is great added value for large inner-city construction sites such as the U5.
Yves Grebing, ZÜBLIN overall project manager for the U5 Lot 2 consortium: "We are currently testing the electric wheel loader for U5 GmbH every day under real conditions. This is the only way we can reliably check whether the vehicle is just as efficient as the conventional diesel machine and therefore offers an environmentally friendly alternative for the future."
The pilot test with the electrically powered wheel loader from Chinese company Liu Gong will run until mid-May on a construction site area to the east of the Sengelmannstraße stop. The U5 Lot 2 consortium of ZÜBLIN and Wayss & Freytag will initially use the wheel loader here for material loading and conditioning (soil preparation). Up to 1000m³ of material will be handled daily on this construction site alone. With a bucket volume of around 3.5 m³, the electric wheel loader can be in use for up to 11 hours, according to the manufacturer. It can be fully charged in around three hours (at the current 150 KW charging capacity).
The test will primarily examine the realistic operating and charging times under real construction site conditions on the U5, the actual power consumption and the reliability of the vehicle. In comparison with the combustion engine, the aim is to gain insights into operation, performance, maintenance and cleaning. The results will be recorded daily and evaluated at the end of the pilot.
Electric construction vehicles are currently very much in focus in the construction machinery industry and are in line with the development goal of emission-free driving and working. For the research and development of battery-powered construction machinery, large construction sites such as the U5 therefore offer particularly good conditions for testing new vehicles. U5 GmbH therefore intends to take further steps in the future. "We want to test even more e-construction vehicles. We are also already having electric trucks tested for ground transportation on the U5. The challenge is to ensure that the electrically powered vehicles are sufficiently available so that they can be used equally on our construction sites," says Klaus Uphoff.
Source: Hochbahn U5 Projekt GmbH
ZÜBLIN is building the first construction phase of the major U5 project together with Wayss & Freytag in two joint ventures. More information on the project.
Klaus Uphoff, Technical Managing Director of HOCHBAHN U5 Projekt GmbH: "With the pilot test, we are continuing to consistently pursue our sustainability strategy. In addition to optimizations in planning and the use of "green" building materials, we are now focusing on construction site logistics. After all, there is great potential here too, particularly in terms of CO2 savings."
In contrast to diesel machines, electrically powered construction vehicles are emission-free during operation. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, they also help to improve air quality and reduce noise emissions and vibrations on site. This is great added value for large inner-city construction sites such as the U5.
Yves Grebing, ZÜBLIN overall project manager for the U5 Lot 2 consortium: "We are currently testing the electric wheel loader for U5 GmbH every day under real conditions. This is the only way we can reliably check whether the vehicle is just as efficient as the conventional diesel machine and therefore offers an environmentally friendly alternative for the future."
The pilot test with the electrically powered wheel loader from Chinese company Liu Gong will run until mid-May on a construction site area to the east of the Sengelmannstraße stop. The U5 Lot 2 consortium of ZÜBLIN and Wayss & Freytag will initially use the wheel loader here for material loading and conditioning (soil preparation). Up to 1000m³ of material will be handled daily on this construction site alone. With a bucket volume of around 3.5 m³, the electric wheel loader can be in use for up to 11 hours, according to the manufacturer. It can be fully charged in around three hours (at the current 150 KW charging capacity).
The test will primarily examine the realistic operating and charging times under real construction site conditions on the U5, the actual power consumption and the reliability of the vehicle. In comparison with the combustion engine, the aim is to gain insights into operation, performance, maintenance and cleaning. The results will be recorded daily and evaluated at the end of the pilot.
Electric construction vehicles are currently very much in focus in the construction machinery industry and are in line with the development goal of emission-free driving and working. For the research and development of battery-powered construction machinery, large construction sites such as the U5 therefore offer particularly good conditions for testing new vehicles. U5 GmbH therefore intends to take further steps in the future. "We want to test even more e-construction vehicles. We are also already having electric trucks tested for ground transportation on the U5. The challenge is to ensure that the electrically powered vehicles are sufficiently available so that they can be used equally on our construction sites," says Klaus Uphoff.
Source: Hochbahn U5 Projekt GmbH
ZÜBLIN is building the first construction phase of the major U5 project together with Wayss & Freytag in two joint ventures. More information on the project.
