Liebherr electric crawler crane on its way to Bigge

American crane sales and rental company Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. has taken delivery of its first all-electric crawler crane, the Liebherr LR 1250.1 unplugged. This crawler crane is the first of its type in California, as well as the US West Coast, and extends Bigge’s nation-wide fleet of over 1,800 cranes.

Bigge says it acquired the all-electric crane to provide an option to its customers for an environmentally conscious heavy-lifting solution. Its electric power train allows the battery-powered crane to be operated indefinitely while connected to shore power or for an average of eight hours when “unplugged.” 

For customers concerned they will have to make a sacrifice for going electric, Bigge says the LR 1250.1 unplugged boasts no adverse effect when plugged in as compared to its diesel counterpart, sporting the same maximum lifting capacity (275 US t), hoisting speed (up to 446 ft/min), and maximum reach (486 ft). This is a considerable upside for customers looking to reduce their project’s carbon footprint without impacting their worksite productivity. 

Joe Nelms, Bigge’s VP & Chief Business Development Officer, noted, “We have a longstanding, successful relationship with the team at Liebherr and are excited to add their first all-electric crawler crane to our Perfect Fleet.

“Bigge’s roots have been established in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1916, and we’re excited to be a part of California’s push for a greener future.” 

Due to its electric powertrain, the crane features drastically reduced noise emissions while in its working mode (<101 dbA), a noise level comparable to that of a household lawnmow-er or kitchen blender. This makes it an ideal solution for large metropolis areas or other environments particularly sensitive to heightened noise emission levels. 

The LR 1250.1 unplugged also comes with all of the latest innovations, technology, and safety features customers and operators expect from Liebherr, including its newly redesigned cab with optimised visibility and enhanced lift assistance systems. 

Bigge’s Liebherr LR 1250.1 unplugged will be arriving in California in October 2023 and joining its Perfect Fleet of operated and maintained rental cranes serving the US West Coast.