A mining equipment company tested an eco friendly heavy vehicle without experiencing significant power loss.
Caterpillar (CAT) recently celebrated completing a test-run of its 793 electric dump truck, and the battery held its charge throughout the entire 7km journey despite carrying a full load.
The truck clocked up a maximum speed of 60 km/h and ascended a 10 per cent grade at 12 km/h. It then travelled 1km along a 10 per cent downhill grade, capturing kinetic energy that partially regenerated the battery. The vehicle even maintained “enough” energy to complete extra cycles.
The trial was a joint effort between CAT, BHP, Rio Tinto, Newmont Corporation, Freeport-McMoRan and Teck Resources. Fellow partner organisation Resource Industries Group revealed the companies plan to roll out the technology across different mine sites in Australia and the rest of the world. Green hydrogen, solar, wind and other renewable energy sources are proposed to be used as recharging power sources.
“We are excited for these trucks to get to work at customers’ sites around the world in the near future,” president Denise Johnson said in a public statement.
“It will take an integrated, site-level solution for miners to achieve their carbon-reduction goals, and we are here to help as they redefine the way they mine for generations to come.”
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