Mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto are set to launch giant battery-powered EV trucks, heavy-duty vehicles much larger than a pickup truck developed by Tesla.
Multi-billion dollar corporations are taking another step to revolutionize Australia’s mining sector, with the companies preparing to trial two battery-electric haulage trucks at mining sites in Western Australia’s rich Pilbara mining region.
The first images of the large excavator trucks have been released, after BHP and Rio Tinto partnered with renowned manufacturers Caterpillar (CAT) and Komatsu to test and develop the off-road trucks.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP are set to launch electric haul trucks (pictured), with the companies following the vehicles in the mining-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Two CAT 793 haul trucks will be tested in the second half of 2024, while two Komatsu 930 trucks will be tested in 2026, with both manufacturers providing one truck each to BHP and Rio Tinto.
The huge trucks are huge compared to the Cybertruck that Tesla launched in December last year, as minerals companies continue to move towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the stainless steel-clad, battery-powered truck was a more practical alternative for motorists, as the truck had a towing capacity of nearly 5,000kg.
But in comparison, the CAT 793 can haul a whopping 240 tonnes, and the electric vehicle giant hauls its maximum rated load at 60 km/h.
Other independent tests of the large haul trucks will measure how the battery-powered vehicles will perform at mining sites and how the trucks will be charged using the charging systems.
Geraldine Slattery, president of BHP Australia, said the testing and development of these trucks will help Australia’s mining industry transition to battery-operated vehicles.
Construction equipment manufacturers Caterpillar and Komatsu have partnered with mining companies to test the trucks (pictured, a Komatsu 930 heavy haul mining truck).
The Cybertruck (pictured) launched by Tesla last year pales in comparison to heavy-duty trucks, with Elon Musk calling the vehicle a more practical alternative to traditional pickup trucks.
“Operational decarbonization depends on technological advances and partnerships like this will help drive our industry forward,” he said.
“Replacing diesel as a fuel source requires us to develop an entirely new operating ecosystem surrounding the fleet.”
Slattery said a fleet of battery-powered trucks would reduce reliance on diesel-powered vehicles.
“We have already seen a radical reduction in operational Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by switching part of our supply to renewable electricity, and we are looking to build on that progress by developing electric battery technology,” he said. .
Simon Trott, Rio Tinto’s iron ore chief executive, said the trials will help pave the way for the mining industry and other businesses to go fully electric.
Multibillion-dollar companies continue to accelerate their transition to using renewable technology, as corporations look to reduce their reliance on diesel-powered vehicles (pictured).
“This collaboration brings together two world-leading miners with two of the world’s largest transportation truck manufacturers to work on solving the critical challenge of zero-emission transportation,” he said.
“Testing two types of battery electric haulage trucks in Pilbara conditions will provide better data and by combining our efforts with BHP we will accelerate learning.”
The two manufacturers will use the test to help them design more trucks, to enable the mining giants to run a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles that will run entirely on electric and battery power.
The trial comes after BHP signed a deal with Japanese carmaker Toyota last year to help develop the first all-electric versions of its legendary Landcruiser and HiLux off-road and 4×4 vehicles.
The company reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent in 2021; However, carbon emissions from burning diesel accounted for 40 per cent of BHP’s direct and indirect emissions in 2020.
