With 100 Electric And Autonomous Trucks Operating In Inner Mongolia, China Inaugurates A New Global Standard In Safe, Efficient And Sustainable Mining.
China has taken an important step in modernizing the mining industry with the launch of the largest fleet of autonomous electric trucks on the planet.
The new fleet has been deployed at the Yimin open-pit coal mine, located in Inner Mongolia, and represents a global milestone in the use of technology for smart mining.
The operation is led by the state-owned Huaneng group and includes 100 unmanned trucks equipped with autonomous driving systems developed by Huawei. According to Li Shuxue, president of Huaneng Mengdong, this is the largest fleet of its kind ever recorded in the world.
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Cutting-Edge Technology At The Heart Of The Mine
The autonomous trucks, known as “Huaneng Ruichi,” are the world’s first electric models to operate completely without a driver’s cabin.
They are designed to withstand extreme conditions, such as temperatures of up to -40 °C, and carry loads of up to 90 tons.
The fleet boasts operational efficiency that is 20% higher compared to traditional manned trucks.
The technology used allows for cost reduction and increased productivity at the mine. Huawei provides a complete system for real-time tracking, route optimization, and precise mapping through its cloud computing platform.
These vehicles also utilize smart battery swapping, allowing for uninterrupted operation and greater field autonomy.
In addition, cloud-based coordination functions enhance maneuvering accuracy and the overall safety of operations.
Advancements In Operational Safety
One of the highlights of the project is the increased safety for workers.
By eliminating the need for drivers, the trucks keep human personnel away from high-risk areas in the mine. This significantly reduces exposure to accidents in hazardous operational zones.
The Autonomous Driving Cloud Service for Commercial Vehicles, created by Huawei, enables automatic route optimization.
This system, which uses a real-time collaborative map, also reduces truck downtime and improves overall operational management.
The Yimin mine has thus become a symbol of autonomous mining, serving as a benchmark for future projects around the world.
The partnership responsible for the project includes Huaneng Group, Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group, Beijing University of Science and Technology, and State Grid Smart Internet of Vehicles Co. Ltd.
5G Mining And Continuous Operations
Connectivity is ensured by a 5G-Advanced network, specially installed for the project. This technology allows uplink speeds of up to 500 Mbps and extremely low latency of just 20 milliseconds.
The 5G-A network enables real-time transmissions, high-definition video monitoring, and the continuous operation of the fleet 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The artificial intelligence algorithms developed by Huawei enhance detection accuracy on-site and make operations even more coordinated through the cloud.
According to the developers, all these features help transform mining from a manual and repetitive activity into an automated and intelligent operation.
The 5G-A technology plays a key role in this transition, ensuring greater efficiency and speed in operational responses.
Focus On Clean Energy And A Sustainable Future
In addition to technological advancement, the initiative aligns with China’s environmental goals. The autonomous trucks are fully electric, replacing fossil fuel-powered models.
This change significantly reduces carbon emissions and reinforces the country’s strategy to achieve zero-carbon footprint mining.
The Yimin mine is located in an area surrounded by wetlands, pastures, and native vegetation. The adoption of electric vehicles contributes to the region’s environmental preservation while maintaining high energy production levels.
It is expected that China will have more than 5,000 automated mining trucks in operation by the end of this year. This number is projected to double by 2026, according to the National Coal Association of the country.
The next steps for the Yimin mine include expanding the fleet to 300 autonomous trucks within the next three years.
Huawei and its partners hope that the operational model will be expanded to other international markets.

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