BATTERY AND ELECTRIC MACHINES
Elphinstone ’ s conceptual illustration of a battery-electric “ Next Gen ” underground grader
to customer operations and ensure reliable machine performance .
Leveraging its existing portfolio of underground support vehicles , Elphinstone will develop the battery-electric vehicles in collaboration with customers and supply chain partners , producing these in existing product development and manufacturing facilities in Burnie , Tasmania .
The project scope will encompass end-to-end research , design , development , testing , validation , manufacturing and market commercialisation of an “ industry-leading battery-electric powertrain ” integrated into two differing base platforms from the existing range of Elphinstone support vehicles , it said . The company confirmed the battery-electric solution would be for the WR810 underground service vehicle platform and “ Next Gen ” underground grader .
One of the potential partners that will be keeping tabs on Elphinstone ’ s developments is battery solutions provider 3ME Technology .
The New South Wales-based company has gone from start-up to commercial success over the space of the last few years with its Bladevolt battery technology featured on Safescape ’ s Bortana EV and , more recently , the TRITEV Integrated Tool-Carrier / Loader running at Aeris Resources ’ Tritton copper operations in the state .
Several of these TRITEVs are now manufactured and awaiting deployment at mine sites , as part of a circa-A $ 140 million deal it agreed in 2021 with Batt Mobile Equipment ( BME ). The pact between the two companies , which worked on the development of the TRITEV , would see 3ME supply BME with upwards of 150 electric vehicle engine packages over the next five years to power BME ’ s 20 t Integrated Tool Carrier battery-electric vehicle retrofits .
The company ’ s modular and scalable battery system philosophy was given a shot in the arm at the end of last year with a A $ 20 million capital raise with the CEFC and the Australian Business Growth Fund that will allow the company to scale up production .
Following this investment , 3ME Technology , CEO Justin Bain , said : “ In developing the Bladevolt battery system , our focus has been on meeting the very high safety and operating demands of heavy vehicles used in Australia ’ s resources sector . With that challenge solved , and the investment backing of the CEFC , we are ready to scale up production and help the mining
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