BHP (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) have begun testing battery-electric haul trucks in Western Australia’s Pilbara as miners seek to cut emissions from some of the world’s largest iron ore operations.
The companies unveiled two Cat 793 XE Early Learner trucks at BHP’s Jimblebar mine after three months of initial testing and safety checks at Caterpillar’s Tucson Proving Ground in Arizona. Jimblebar holds two of the seven Caterpillar battery-electric haul trucks being tested worldwide.
“These trucks exemplify what can be achieved when leaders in our industry collaborate to find a solution to a complex problem,” Western Australia Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael said in a Tuesday press release. “We can’t underestimate what a feat it is to have such innovative, cutting-edge technologies rolled out in the Pilbara.”
The trial will test the trucks’ performance, charging needs and commercial use in one of mining’s toughest operating environments. It will assess static and dynamic charging, including systems that can charge trucks while they move.
Charging challenge
The project will evaluate both static and dynamic charging systems, including technology designed to charge the trucks while they are moving.
The companies have logged more than 100 operating hours and 200 test laps, gathering data on safety, maintenance and performance.
Heavy haulage ranks among the biggest sources of mine-site emissions, making battery-electric trucks a key test for miners with net-zero targets. Success in the Pilbara could speed wider use of electric fleets across the global mining sector.
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