Liebherr Mid-Size Wheel Loaders

Hydrostatic Drive and Fuel Efficiency

Construction Equipment - July 1, 2006

Walt Moore
Senior Editor

Liebherr's new Generation-6 wheel loaders, the L 566 2plus2 and the L 580 2plus2, use Liebherr engines that are Tier-3 compliant. They also feature an advanced cooling system that combines larger capacity with a hydraulically driven fan. Cabs for the new models are 28 percent larger than their predecessors, and feature more powerful air-conditioning systems.

Number of models: 2

New models: L566 2plus2, L580 2plus2

Product-line features: The L566 and L580 retain the hallmark feature of Liebherr's loader range, namely, the "2plus2" hydrostatic drive system, which employs two hydraulic drive motors that are used singly or in tandem as operating conditions dictate. According to the company, the design advantages afforded by the drive system can reduce fuel consumption up to 40 percent, compared to competitive models.

Specifications
Model	Horsepower (Rated)	Operating Weight (lb.)*	Bucket Range Or Nominal Bucket (cu. yd.)**
L 566	259	50,500	5.3–11.3
L 580	272	54,500	6.6–11.3
* Approximate operating weight; exact weight varies with specific configuration **Approximate bucket capacities