Hitachi tells us that the “world’s first ultra-large battery-powered dump truck” is already working at an open-pit copper and gold mine in Zambia. It is a prototype that is undergoing validation tests under operational loads to verify its performance and all the supporting infrastructure.
Heavy mining machinery uses huge amounts of diesel fuel and for some time now we have seen some attempts at electrification by companies such as Williams Advanced Engineering, CAT or Anglo American (with hydrogen) to reduce pollution. Hitachi Construction Machinery began its project in 2021, together with ABB to get closer to net zero emissions from mining machines. In June of that year, the development of a battery-powered electric dump truck began.
Already in 2023, First Quantum Minerals agreed to conduct feasibility tests for the truck at its Kansanshi copper-gold mine in Zambia. Why there? Because they already use dozens of Hitachi diesel-electric trolleybuses. This battery prototype takes advantage of the existing network of overhead charging lines
Diesel-electric vehicles use the internal combustion engine to move like a normal truck, but can also lift a metal part to connect to overhead wires and run on electricity alone. A battery-electric version would completely eliminate diesel emissions. This would be particularly interesting in Zambia, where almost 92% of energy needs are met by renewable energy.
In January 2024, the first tests of the prototype were completed. They used a Hitachi EH4000 AC-3 as a base, a 14-metre-long dump truck with 29-inch tyres and powered by a Cummins engine that can load up to 221 tonnes. It has just arrived in Zambia and now it remains to be seen whether it can operate continuously thanks to the energy provided by the already installed catenary and its regenerative braking system on the prototype.
This dynamic charging configuration should eliminate the need for the truck to stop to recharge. Additionally, it requires a smaller battery than usual, which will certainly make the car cheaper and should maximize charging capacity.
“This system is an operational, practical and economically feasible solution that will reduce mining emissions for many years,” says John Gregory of First Quantum. This video (from some time ago) explains the details of the project and the static loading option being considered:
Source: Hitachi Construction Machinery
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