BATTERY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Narrowing the gap
While vehicle range is still a factor holding back
customers in every market for battery-electric
vehicles, the performance advantages are starting
to be acknowledged more broadly.
Boudreault says Epiroc’s BEVs have
outperformed diesel-powered machines during
benchmarking trials, with a mine truck on a ramp
haulage application yielding 10-12% higher
productivity than its diesel counterpart.
And, of course, this comes on top of numerous
environmental benefits for both operators and the
companies employing the vehicles.
Sandvik-owned Artisan Vehicle Systems has
also been quick in comparing battery-powered
machines with the equivalent diesel-powered
variety.
In releasing its Z50 underground haul truck –
the largest battery-electric underground haul truck
recently on the market – Artisan said the 50 t
capacity truck generates twice the peak
horsepower and one eighth the heat of its diesel
equivalent.
One of these vehicles, powered by four electric
motors generating 560 kW and 8,200 Nm of
torque, is set to go underground at a US mine, so
those claims will soon be tested.
IM understands larger payload battery-electric
trucks for the Australian market are also in
development by one of the major OEMs, which will
allow further diesel/battery benchmarking.
If developments in the battery and component
supply chain continue at the same pace as the
vehicles itself, the gap between diesel- and
battery-powered machines could narrow further.
MacLean’s Griffiths explained: “The supply
chain is catching up and starting to look ahead
and develop things that will extend the battery
chemistry, range and charging time.”
Acknowledging this evolution, Epiroc’s
Boudreault said: “The performance gap between
electrical and diesel machines will only continue
to grow. With improved cell capacity, we will also
extend the drive time.”
These changes could also see the price gap
between diesel and battery-powered machines
close, according to Normet’s Product Line Director,
New Technologies, Jukka Ristimäki.
“When these parts go into mass production –
you can see the battery volumes going up – you
will see the prices go down,” he said.
All about the charge
Normet, like MacLean, started its fleet
electrification plans with machines that could tram
on battery power and charge while carrying out
their stated tasks.
The Finland-based company launched its fully-
electric offering for mining and tunnelling
construction at the Bauma fair in Munich, last
year, calling its SmartDrive technology a
“sophisticated and fully-engineered battery-
electric architecture able to operate underground
totally emission-free, saving costs at the same
time”.
Ristimäki told IM that the company began its
electrification project back in 2015, with its first
prototype developed in 2017. It worked with the
First Quantum-owned Pyhäsalmi mine, in Finland,
to refine its approach before the Bauma launch
and, in mid-2019, demonstrated the first battery-
electric emulsion charging in a production
environment underground with its Charmec MC
605 VE SD at Pyhäsalmi.
Ristimäki explained the company’s approach to
electrification: “Our concept for the battery utility
vehicles is not battery swapping, but fast
charging. Battery swapping might be needed for
loaders or dumpers, but opportunity charging fits
well into the range of vehicles we manufacture.”
The company, which focuses on concrete
spraying and transport, explosives charging,
scaling, rock and ground support, sought to utilise
existing power infrastructure underground at
mines with these vehicles, but at the same time
ensure all of its equipment is compatible with
standardised fast charging interfaces like the CCS
(combined charging system) protocol.
“In our approach, we also thought it made
sense to use that infrastructure and be able to
charge with an on-board charger, as well as fast
charging, to give the flexibility to the customer,”
he said, adding that the company supplies battery