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In A Global Call Focused On Entrepreneurs, Mining Companies Have Ambitions To Develop Electrification Solutions For Trucks Used In Mines
The three largest mining companies in the world, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Vale, announced last Thursday (05/13) during a global teleconference for business leaders, suppliers, and start-ups that they aim to develop solutions for the electrification of large trucks used in mines. The mining companies explained in a joint statement that the goal is to provide a solution that not only improves safety and production efficiency of batteries but also replaces diesel with batteries, significantly reducing emissions during operations.
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The Plan Of The Mining Companies To Develop Electric Trucks
This plan from the largest mining companies was presented at a time when base metals have become increasingly important as a key raw material for battery production. The Charge On Innovation Challenge, as the program from mining companies Vale, BHP, and Rio Tinto is called, aims to generate solutions to replace diesel with batteries in large trucks.
Since they are large trucks, the challenge of the program will be to reduce the charging time of the vehicles, which is currently very long and hinders productivity. The mining companies need fast and scalable charging technologies capable of providing about 400 kWh to charge and power a truck within the transport cycle, which involves loading, transporting, dumping, returning, and queuing.
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The Electrification Of Large Trucks In The Mining Sector
Carlos Mello, Engineering Director of Ferrous at Vale, says that electrification in mines requires considerable integration between the planning and operations of mining companies, necessitating the development of new charging solutions that can be incorporated into operations, alongside the development of battery trucks, to ensure the creation of a truly sustainable electric transportation system in all aspects: clean, competitive, and flexible.
Edgar Basto, President of BHP Minerals Australia, said that the innovative ideas that emerge from the project could also be immediately applied to existing diesel-electric equipment. Edgar also emphasizes that these challenges of electrifying trucks will not be solved overnight; however, he highlights that mining companies may find the best concepts that can be applied across the industry.
Mark Davies, Project Executive at Rio Tinto Group, expects that the initiative to electrify large trucks will generate long-term benefits for the mining industry and the environment. Mark adds that this project from the mining companies has a global appeal to innovators to change how transport truck systems operate in the mining sector.
The Electrification Project Of Mining Companies
This challenge of electrifying mining trucks is being led by Austmine (the association of mining equipment, technology, and services in Australia). Recently, the three mining companies announced their intention to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Applications for the initiative called “Charge On Innovation Challenge” opened yesterday (05/18), and candidates interested in the mining companies’ plans can submit their projects during this year.
In line with the goal of reducing emissions, Vale announced last Thursday that it will receive the world’s first mineral carrier ship equipped with rotating sails in the coming days, which aim to increase efficiency and reduce fossil fuel consumption.
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