Rough and ready: How RT cranes are getting greener and stronger - but not longer

Take a look at Tadano’s promotional video for its new EVOLT eGR-1000XLL-1 and you might be forgiven for thinking you had mistakenly clicked on the latest Ridley Scott sci-fi movie.

Tadano’s eGR-1000XLL-1. Image: Tadano

The slick three-minute-long video has a soundtrack oddly reminiscent of the Alien franchise and tells the story in glorious technicolour of a new power, to date untapped in its universe – in this case the company’s first fully electric rough terrain crane for the US and Canadian market.

Certainly, it shows that the Japan-based manufacturer has been ploughing a significant chunk of its marketing budget promoting the new 100 tonne capacity RT crane which the company sees as a major step in its goal to reduce emissions generated by its products by 35 per cent by 2030.

If the company can crack the highly competitive North American RT crane market with a battery-powered alternative, then the thinking is that the concept can be rolled out across other models.

“Tadano is assessing other models for potential electrification as part of its Green Solutions initiative,” says Lance Rydbom, director for product management and engineering at the company’s Pan-American operations. “We are committed to advancing our electric crane lineup, focusing on sustainability and efficiency. We aim to respond to customer demand for sustainable solutions.”

Certainly, North America remains the largest market for rough terrain cranes which, unlike their all-terrain cousins, have large axles which enable their tyres to move over rough surfaces and are usually prohibited from driving on public roads.

Yet exactly how much demand there is from customers for fully electric rough terrain cranes is a moot point – especially as many of the machines sold are required to work long hours on infrastructure or energy projects, or to maintain other machines in mines.

Tadano only launched the new model on 31 October and has so far provided no information on how sales have been going on either this model or its first battery electric RT crane, the 25 tonne capacity EVOLT eGR-250N which the company launched last December in Japan.

“This crane suits various applications, including urban construction projects, industrial facilities, and indoor projects,” says Rydbom. “Demand is expected to be highest in sectors requiring strict environmental and noise controls, such as metropolitan construction sites and renewable energy projects, where emissions reduction is prioritised.”

Tadano boasts that eGR-1000XLL-1 matches the lifting power and maneuverability of the company’s closest diesel equivalent, the GR-1000XLL-4, which Tadano launched in 2020.

Liebherr’s liebherr-LTR1130 at work in the Wasel open cast mine in Bergheim. Photo: Liebherr

The machine has a 100-tonne (90.7 metric tonne) lifting capacity and a 51-meter boom length, reaching a maximum height of 68.3 meters with the jib.

Moreover, when operating, the electric machine makes almost no sound. At a recent demonstration at the Shido Plant in Japan, witnessed by Crane Briefing, the only discernible noise made by the model was when the boom hydraulics were engaged.

“The machine’s zero emissions and lower noise make it ideal for urban areas or indoor projects where quiet operation is beneficial,” Rydbom adds.

However, as with much electric construction machinery, the main sticking points for eectric rough terrain cranes are likely to be with both the higher initial purchase cost when compared with a diesel alternative as well as concerns about running time.

“While conventional cranes have advantages in runtime length, the eGR-1000XLL-1 minimizes operational costs by eliminating fuel expenses and lowering maintenance needs due to its simplified electric drive,” Rydbom says. “Although battery runtime is finite, plug-in operation is possible for continuous work.”

He points out that the machine offers up to seven hours of lifting or five hours of lifting combined with 5.5 miles (8.7 km) of travel per charge. Charging options include a 480V AC (normal charge: 4.5-5.5 hours) and CCS1 rapid charge (2 hours). It also features regenerative braking to recharge the battery during deceleration.

Meanwhile other rough terrain crane manufactures will be watching carefully to see how the market is receiving the first fully electric machines.

Elsewhere, the appetite among manufacturers appears to be less concerned with ditching internal combustion engines and more interested in increasing the efficiency of the diesel models on offer and pushing the boundaries of lifting capacity while maintaining maneuverability.

Liebherr only re-entered the rough terrain crane market in 2017 after a thirty-year absence having focused on its all-terrain models which tend to be more popular in the European markets.

However, since then, Liebherr has invested heavily in the sector, launching a 90 tonne and 100 tonne model at ConExpo in 2017 and five years later, its 130-tonne capacity LRT1130-2 at Bauma 2022.

Liebherr says that one of the main reasons for this is that for All Terrain cranes to be capable of lifting loads of up to 130 tonnes, they generally have to be a lot longer (usually comprising around 5 axles) while Rough Terrain cranes with their larger wheels can carry the same loads in a more compact form, taking up far less space on confined construction sites, industrial yards or refineries.

Although all powered by six-cylinder Cummins combustion engines, Liebherr says it has worked to minimize CO2 emissions. Machines can be operated without restrictions with hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). Moreover, the company says that even the 130-tonne version has been designed so it can be transported easily on conventional low-loaders.

Moreover, the LRT1130 comes with a 60-meter-long telescopic boom, giving it a maximum hoist height of 85 meters and a maximum radius of 66 meters.

Its variable support base allows each crane outrigger to be extended to any length while the crane work is controlled by a load moment limiter which calculates the maximum load capacities for the current situation. The manufacturer says this spells greater efficiency for crane operators by ensuring higher lifting capacities over a support and means that ballast transport is often not required for many crane jobs.

The Terex TRT80L. Photo: Terex RT

Liebherr says it is working on new developments in the rough terrain sector but, although it plans to launch new mobile cranes at Bauma 2025, the company has no plans to launch any new RT machines.

Terex Rough Terrain Cranes, the Italian-based rough terrain crane manufacturing arm of US giant Terex, has no such qualms.

So far this year the company has launched three new models, the TRT60, TRT80L and TRT100, while the company says it has plans to launch a new 50 tonne capacity model in the near future.

The TRT80L, which the company launched in June 2024, includes a longer 47-meter telescopic boom which can be extended with jib options of 9 and 17 meters.

Terex says the main reason behind the launch was to appeal to crane rental companies by enhancing the cranes versatility.

Like Liebherr, Terex too highlights transport convenience as a highlight of its two-axle model, facilitated partly by its width of just 3 meters – something that also helps with maneuvering in confined spaces and jobsites.

The company also points to its hydraulic system which features load sensing technology, allowing precise movements and load positioning.

And Terex doesn’t plan to stop there. The company says that in 2025 it has plans to further extend its range beyond its current maximum lifting capacity of 100 tonnes.

“We will not stop here and in 2025 we will showcase what is going to be the biggest Terex RT in our offering and also a strategic return of Terex RT to a product range which used to be very successful for us,” says Giancarlo Montanari, general manager at Terex RT.

“The capacity of RTs is increasing but we are getting close to the limit of rough terrain cranes with two axles,” he adds.

Italian manufacturer Locatelli too has been increasing the capacity of its RT crane models.

In April it showcased its new 100 tonne capacity Gril 110.100 RT crane at the Intermat 2024 trade show in Paris. The crane, which has a 47-meter boom in 5 sections, is now the biggest RT model in the company’s range, surpassing the 80 tonne capacity RT.

Meanwhile US-based Manitowoc has been refreshing its offering by updating its 65 tonne and 80 tonne capacity Grove-branded rough terrain cranes.

The GRT765 and the GRT780 were both unveiled for the first time to dealers and customers at the company’s Crane Days event in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania in May 2024, replacing the previous RT765E-2, RT770E and GRT880.