While IM has been at the Hillhead show near Buxton many times over the years – one machine really stood out at this year’s event – and that was the presence of the first ever all battery electric rigid truck at the show, namely LiuGong’s DR50CE.
There has been interest in electric equipment in the UK mining and quarrying market for some time, and multiple sales of battery wheel loader units in the past few years such as the LiuGong 20 t 856HE, 25 t 870HE and 41 t 8110TE, which have gone to a number of quarry sites, plus electric excavators like the 922FE and 924FE which are out there with operators such as Flannery Plant Hire, and the 24 t 4280DE electric motor grader – the recent turbulence in diesel prices has certainly now sharpened the focus on haulage as well.
While the 50 t payload DR50CE is already in use in Europe with a handful of operators including Rental Group in Norway, it is still quite new to the market – and the UK is a real opportunity for LiuGong and for this model, with no other competitor battery rigid trucks really available currently. The trucks are made at LiuGong’s main factory in Liuzhou, Guangxi Province.
Battery wide body trucks – which LiuGong and a number of other OEMs like SANY, Zoomlion and XCMG supply – are an option, but the UK hard rock quarrying sector is still dominated by rigids. There are several reasons for this, one of which being that with steep walls, the trucks take a lot of punishment in terms of conditions and are often operating on longer shifts than civil projects. Electric ADTs have just entered the market as well – with the first fleet of four Volvo A40 Electric units set to begin operation in the UK, but at a construction project.
IM Editorial Director Paul Moore with the LiuGong DR50CE at Hillhead 2026
Many UK mining and quarrying operations have downhill loaded hauls which represent the sweet spot for the DR50CE in duty cycles and potentially will allow for a quick payback period versus diesel counterparts.
The unit at Hillhead was already Holcim badged as after the show it was being moved to one of its operations, and Harry Mellor, UK Sales Director at LiuGong told IM at the event that it forms part of a wider investment in battery electric equipment across Europe by Holcim, underlining a new found confidence major operators have in this technology when it comes to haulage. And Holcim is not alone – there was a lot of interest and advanced sales discussions with other major quarrying groups at Hillhead as well regarding this model.
Its series-connected dual motors provide 13,200 Nm peak torque for near-zero energy use during 6-8% downhill operation via motor feedback. LiuGong ‘s VCU optimises energy management, while a robust braking system enhances safety. Operator comfort is improved with air suspension, LCD dashboard, and central control screen. The CATL 423 kW LFP battery pack is combined with 500 kW rated motors with a peak of 1,200 kW.
LiuGong has its own charging solutions, such as charging piles equipped with two CCS guns and a range of charges from 30 kilowatts up to 360 kilowatts; but also works with third parties. For the DR50CE in the UK it has also teamed up with Vital Power Group and showcased the VPG SiteCharge 200 kW Mobile BESS Charger at Hillhead, which being mobile can provide top up charges in the pit. LiuGong has also delivered BEV charging solutions to UK and European customers working with Kempower and DENS Powerhub.
Mellor adds: “The interest in the DR50CE comes down to one simple question every quarry operator asks – does the product improve my business? The DR50CE has been engineered differently from conventional rigid dump trucks. Its direct-drive electric motor is mounted directly to the rear axle, eliminating the need for a conventional gearbox. This delivers instant torque, smooth acceleration, fewer moving parts and lower maintenance requirements, while regenerative braking allows the truck to recover energy whenever it is hauling downhill.”
He argues when matched to the right application, particularly sites with the optimum haul profile and downhill loaded return, that the results are exceptional. “We’ve demonstrated reductions in total cost of ownership of up to 80% compared with conventional diesel trucks, while also reducing fuel dependency, lowering maintenance costs and improving operator comfort.”
Mellor added: “What really resonated with visitors at Hillhead was that the DR50CE changes perceptions of what battery electric equipment can achieve. This isn’t a small niche machine; it’s a rigid dump truck with a gross vehicle mass approaching 100 tonnes, powered entirely by batteries and designed for full production environments.”
For quarry operators facing rising fuel costs, tighter emissions targets and increasing pressure to improve operating efficiency, he argues that the conversation is no longer about whether battery electric technology is the future. “It’s about identifying the applications where it delivers the greatest return on investment. The DR50CE proves that, when correctly matched to the job, going electric isn’t just the sustainable choice – it’s the commercially smarter one.”