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Unable to find a ready model, Zijin Mining teamed up with Longking to create the LK220E, a 140-ton electric truck with the largest removable battery ever used, according to the company. At the Wulagen mine, there are already 290 units, and more than 80% of the transport is powered by electricity.
China did not find a suitable electric truck for mining, commissioned one from scratch, launched a 140-ton vehicle with a 770 kWh battery that can be swapped in 4 minutes, and already operates 290 units at the largest zinc mine in Xinjiang. The case is one of the largest uses of electric vehicles in mining so far.
The Chinese mining company Zijin Mining introduced 290 battery electric transport trucks at its Wulagen zinc mine in Xinjiang, in one of the largest uses of electric vehicles in mining to date. Unable to find a truck that met the mine’s needs, the company partnered with equipment manufacturer Longking to design the LK220E, a 140-ton truck with a 770 kWh battery that, according to Zijin, is the largest removable battery ever used in an electric transport truck. Now, more than 80% of the transport at the mine is powered by electric energy.
A custom-made electric truck for the mine
Unable to find a model that met the operation’s requirements, Zijin Mining worked with manufacturer Longking to design a custom-made electric truck for the site. The result was the LK220E, a 140-ton battery transport truck with a 770 kWh battery pack.
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According to Zijin, this is the largest removable battery ever used in an electric transport truck. At the Wulagen zinc mine in Xinjiang, 290 of these units are already operating, in one of the largest uses of electric vehicles in mining to date, and more than 80% of the site’s transport is now powered by electricity.
The battery swappable in four minutes
Mining imposes special demands on heavy vehicles, which need to operate for long periods, carry heavy loads, and avoid unscheduled stops, and standard charging can delay the process if an electric truck is idle for too long. To solve this, the LK220E uses a battery swapping system.
With this system, depleted batteries can be replaced in about four minutes, allowing trucks to keep moving without long stops for recharging, which helps large mining companies remain efficient and productive. The first LK220E was introduced in December 2025, and since then, hundreds of others have started operating in the mine.
Renewable energy behind electrification
The Wulagen mine already uses renewable energy in its operations, combining local wind and solar energy with battery storage to reduce fossil fuel use, which made the adoption of each electric truck a logical next step. By using battery trucks instead of diesel trucks, the mining company can reduce emissions and use more of its own renewable energy.
This change aligns with the global effort of the mining industry to reduce carbon emissions. Heavy-duty trucks consume a lot of fuel, making them a primary focus of electrification in the sector.
Lower costs and more reliability, according to Zijin
Besides environmental benefits, the company cites significant economic advantages of the electric truck. According to Zijin, the energy cost per ton transported per kilometer for electric mining trucks is only about 0.177 RMB, compared to up to 0.68 RMB when using fossil energy.
“The simpler operation of electric vehicles reduces the risk of accidents,” the company stated, citing operational errors.
The company also claims that electric propulsion systems have fewer moving parts, meaning less maintenance and fewer breakdowns, with a much lower failure rate than fossil fuel vehicles. According to the mining company, easier operation can also make mining sites safer.
Part of a larger electrification strategy
These new transport trucks are just part of Zijin Mining’s larger effort to electrify its vehicles, and each added electric truck expands a fleet that already exceeds 1,700 electric vehicles operating in its mines. The scale shows the size of the company’s bet on the transition.
More electric vehicles will be added before the end of the year, with several hundred integrating into the fleet, which supports Zijin’s goal of achieving zero-carbon emission mining operations. The expansion reinforces the importance of electrification in the company’s plan.
Without finding a suitable model, Zijin Mining and Longking created the LK220E, a 140-ton electric truck with a 770 kWh battery that can be swapped in about four minutes, and 290 units are already operating at the Wulagen zinc mine in Xinjiang, where more than 80% of transportation is electric and a large portion of the energy comes from renewable sources.
With more than 1,700 electric vehicles and the goal of zeroing carbon emissions, Zijin claims that large mining companies can electrify their most energy-demanding equipment and still meet production. The case reinforces the global movement to move heavy transport trucks away from diesel.
And you, what do you think of the giant electric truck created by the Chinese mine? Do you believe that heavy mining can be fully electrified? Share your opinion and exchange ideas with other readers about mining, energy, and technology.
