Swietelsky Rail Benelux, one of Europe’s leading rail contractors, partnered with PowerBattery and Nijhuis Engineering to develop a fully electric Liebherr excavator, specifically designed for zero-emission rail construction.
The challenge was to create a retrofit solution that would deliver maximum battery capacity, seamless integration, and uncompromising reliability—without sacrificing operator visibility, safety, machine operation or comfort.
Standard retrofit battery packs often proved too bulky and lacked sufficient capacity for demanding, long-shift rail work. PowerBattery’s drop-in solution featured four battery packs, fully concealed within the excavator’s chassis, providing a total capacity of 489 kWh—significantly more than typical retrofits.
The system is certified and includes advanced safety features, enabling up to 20 hours of continuous, quiet, emission-free operation. As a result, Swietelsky’s first fully electric rail excavator is now in daily use, paving the way for future expansion and demonstrating the viability of large-scale, zero-emission construction equipment for the rail industry.
