UNDERGROUND LOAD & HAUL
The 10-t-payload battery-electric Scooptram ST10 G offers up to four hours of drive time on a single battery charge
standardised CCS charging interface. The battery also features active and passive safety systems to meet the highest safety standards, Epiroc added.
Mattias Petterson, Global Portfolio Manager, Loaders, said the electric infrastructure and chargers support not only Epiroc machines, but also other equipment in the mine,“ which is crucial to help accelerate the transformation towards more sustainable mining operations.”
Compared with a traditional dieselpowered underground loader, one single battery-electric Scooptram ST10 G can lower CO2 emissions with up to 262,000 kg / y, according to Epiroc. At the same time, toxic gases, heat and noise are significantly reduced for operators working in the mine. Adding to that, the overall efficiency of the electric drivetrain reduces maintenance cost and improves productivity.
At The Electric Mine 2025, Franck Boudreault, Epiroc’ s Underground Application Expert Electrification, also talked up trolley potential when it comes to underground fleet electrification using the Boliden Rävliden example as a case study, plus highlighting the potential of the OEMagnostic BluVein1 system.
Boliden recently inaugurated the Rävliden deposit, in Sweden, which has a 5.6-km ramp at a 1:7 average incline with multiple Epiroc Minetruck MT42 SG Trolley trucks running on it.
The BluVein1 system, now in its third generation, has just been fitted to a MT42 vehicle that started off as a diesel machine, was converted to battery operation and is now, in effect, a battery-trolley variant.
Boudreault explained:“ If you compare in a typical ramp application a [ battery-trolley ] truck like this with a battery-electric truck, you will use about 10 % of the battery usage, which is a huge difference when it comes to the running cost. And, because you only use a very small amount of energy, you can keep your battery in the sweetspot of the state of charge, which will then give you longevity on the battery.”
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Offering a 30 % increase in speed over the battery-only variant, Boudreault saw potential for the integration of this system into not only the MT42 SG platform, but also the 66-t-payload MT66s eDrive dieselelectric truck the company launched last year.
The R2900 LHD evolution
It’ s easy to see the Cat ® Dynamic Energy Transfer( DET) solution, originally produced for surface mining haul trucks, offering similar benefits to its line of underground diesel-electric and battery-electric equipment in the future.
In the meantime, Caterpillar is reflecting on the 30-year evolution of its Cat R2900 LHD, which first debuted at the 1995 AIMEX mining show in Sydney, Australia.
Replacing the originally designed LHD 2600 machine, the Cat R2900 increased rated payload to 17.2 t, which was one tonne higher than the R2800. At the time, this met mining operations’ needs for increased productivity to reduce the cost per tonne of ore mined, Caterpillar says.
“ Throughout the years, the R2900 series has remained the workhorse of the Caterpillar LHD line with design updates technology includes the Cat line-of-sight console with other Cat MineStar™ Command technology options to make it possible for teleremote and semi-autonomous operation from a remote operator station.
With a markedly different design, the new Cat R2900 XE, introduced mid-year 2023, served as Caterpillar’ s next evolutionary step in pushing the boundaries of loader performance and efficiency.
“ The company’ s first diesel-electric LHD model meets today’ s mining industry’ s needs for bigger payloads, faster loading and reduced emissions,” the company says.“ It features optimised lift arm and component geometry plus load-sensing hydraulics to elevate lift breakout force to 32,500 kg and calculated tilt breakout force to 42,000 kg, an overall 35 % improvement in breakout force from the R2900G. Plus, the new LHD includes many operator and technician enhancements designed to improve safety and productivity.”
Its switch reluctance( SR) electric drive system with continuously variable speed control provides 52 % quicker acceleration and improved machine response over the R2900G and, with no driveline or powertrain shock loads, it offers smooth directional
“ Throughout the years, the R2900 series has remained the workhorse of the Caterpillar LHD line with design updates making only minor changes to many of the productivity specifications such as payload, bucket size options and breakout force,” Caterpillar says
making only minor changes to many of the productivity specifications such as payload, bucket size options and breakout force,” the company says.“ Much of the effort focused on reducing exhaust emissions to improve underground air quality.”
Technology also played an integral role in machine design with Product Link™ Elite enabling machine health monitoring through the in-cab display and making it easier to share data across multiple destinations. Remote machine operation was also introduced with the early R2900s to increase operator safety. The scalable remote changes and increased powertrain component life, the company claims. Automatic retarding controls maintain speed on grade, and the anti-rollback feature also prevents coasting in neutral.
“ With no transmission or torque converter, the R2900 XE features lower hydrocarbon emissions and offers a reduction in fluids that require regular servicing,” Caterpillar added.“ Service intervals for the Cat C15 engine have been increased to 500 hours. Together with lower heat generation, there is a reduction in service parts required and stoppages for servicing.”
International Mining | JULY 2025