mining

Cummins has its eye on hybrid powertrains to help decarbonize the transport, construction, and mining spaces the operates in. To that end, the company has acquired the hybrid equipment experts First Mode, and plans to make the first commercially available retrofit hybrid system for mining equipment a reality not just soon – but now.

Swedish multinational Sandvik says it’s successfully deployed a pair of fully autonomous Toro LH518iB battery-electric underground loaders at the New Gold Inc. ($NGD) New Afton mine in British Columbia, Canada.

Australian mining company Fortescue is making headlines again, after it placed a huge, $400 million order for over 100 new electric equipment assets with Chinese heavy equipment company XCMG (Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group). The deal is the largest single equipment export deal in XCMG’s history.

With a massive, 240 ton payload and a host of new features, the first of Caterpillar’s next-generation CAT 793 XE Early Learner battery electric trucks has arrived at Newmont’s Cripple Creek and Victor (CC&V) mine in Teller County, Colorado.

Komatsu says its new PC4000-11E hydraulic mining excavator can bring both the powerful digging force of high-performance diesel machines and the emission-free operation of battery power to some of the world’s toughest mining operations.

Hard rock mining equipment manufacturer Sandvik is working with Swedish mining company Boliden AB to test and develop a new, battery electric surface drill rig concept at Boliden’s Kevitsa mine.

Earlier today, global mining giant Fortescue announced plans to begin operations at its new Detroit factory with the production of HV marine batteries that will be used initially by EVOA to power a range of luxury marine vessels, wake boats, and tenders — and they’ve come to Quick Charge to tell us all about it!

Global mining and metals company Fortescue is driving the technology behind massive, all electric heavy equipment solutions with an all-new 6 MW DC fast charger that can charge this massive haul truck’s 1,900 kWh battery in less than thirty minutes. (!)

Japanese equipment giant Komatsu dropped its new, 320-ton Power Agnostic 930E mining truck at MinsExpo trade show in Las Vegas, calling it a future-ready solution that can run on diesel, hydrogen, or pure electric power.

Located in Perth, Western Australia, EPCA became famous for its “Green Machine,” a CAT 777 100-ton haul truck it converted to electric power. Now, the company says it has plans to produce 50-70 more of the battery electric mining trucks … each year.

In what both companies claim to be a world’s first, Liebherr and Fortescue have announced plans to jointly develop a fully Autonomous Haulage Solution (AHS) for their massive, 264-ton BEV-converted electric haul trucks.

In this special, second vacation episode of Quick Charge, we explore the historic dive in global diesel demand, and how the proliferation of EVs large and small is driving growth in the global mining industry – which, in turn, is driving growth in both the electric & autonomous mining equipment markets.

Rising demand for nickel, lithium, and phosphates combined with the natural benefits of electrification are driving the adoption of electric mining machines. At the same time, a persistent operator shortage is boosting demand for autonomous machines.

Mining company Vale is turning to Caterpillar to provide this massive, 240-ton battery-electric haul truck in a bid to slash carbon emissions at its mines by 2030.

Mining fatalities climbed more than 30 percent from 2022 to 2023, with construction fatalities also continuing to rise. In a bid to help keep miners safe, FIRSTGREEN Industries has launched a new line of cabinless, remote operated skid steers designed specifically for use in critical mining operations.

This massive Liebherr electric excavator reached a major operational milestone earlier this month when it moved its one millionth tonne of dirt. And now, its buyers want more!

Swedish equipment brand Sandvik announced a new battery electric surface drill rig in a bid to create more efficient, cost-effective drilling operations. And, yes – the irony here is delicious!

For the first time in the company’s 40-year history, Liebherr have converted one of their R 9400 excavators from a conventional diesel to an electric powertrain.