MINING TRUCKS two ways – first for itself as a mining services company- it operates 1,135 mining trucks around the world. But second and perhaps more significantly – the wider market. He pointed out there are 6,000 large haul trucks running worldwide that have yet to reach their 60,000 hour rebuild, and shows the hybrid retrofit potential that is out there.
Lynn:“ How do we address that problem? Do we dispose of our fleets early and replace them with battery trucks? How do we support those fleets? For many of our own projects, there is not enough available electricity supply, generation capability, or electrical supply infrastructure to support a full battery electric fleet rollout – and that journey takes time. There are groundbreaking technologies here today to help support the delivery of a decarbonised future. But we need an interim solution – we can’ t ignore our incumbent fleets, particularly as we challenge ourselves to run our assets more and for longer … we are focused on extending the life of our existing assets far beyond what was ever considered possible. This forms a core part of our business and the services that we offer to the industry … rebuilding, or overhauling your existing trucking fleet is the opportune time to hybridise your assets – to reduce fuel burn, and critically to improve productivity.”
He continued to discuss the potential that Thiess has in conjunction with FLANDERS, to not only convert its own fleet but also to offer hydridisation as a service to potential new contract mining clients:“ With this in mind Thiess is partnering with FLANDERS, a global technology leader, to enable us to offer an agnostic hybrid retrofit for mechanical and electric drive trucks to support you as well as ourselves. FLANDERS provides world class technology and Thiess brings the people, process and facilities to hybridise your fleet. Together we can support your pathway to hybridisation from conception, to the end of your project, or any stage in between. Firstly, you need a fleet analysis. What assets do you hybridise and when? And what work makes sense for you – a full truck rebuild to the technology stack, and what gives you the most benefit for your asset? The next step is how do you assess the financial viability to ensure the system works for you?”
He added:“ For us, broadly speaking, the deeper the pit, the greater the benefit. But we need to understand what lower fuel burn, and that improved productive performance means for your business in dollar per bcm or dollar per tonne output. Then its time for conversion – do you complete the work onsite or offsite and what additional resources do you need to support you once your units are out of service. Once you’ ve got your hybrid fleet, how do you integrate it with your standard assets while still delivering optimised performance? And finally, you need to consider how to maintain your hybrid fleet. We can work with you to provide support and delivery for all and any part of this journey with a holistic hybridisation package.”
Cummins First Mode – from promise to performance
In February 2026, Lundin Mining says its 70 %-owned Caserones operation in Chile had become the first active mine site in the world to operate an ultra-class haul truck with a hybrid-electric system.
The retrofit kit, delivered by Cummins First Mode, has been fitted on a Komatsu 930E truck( number 330) at Caserones. Cummins has previously stated that the First Mode retrofit kit delivers immediate fuel savings and reduces emissions by up to 25 % with minimal changes to an existing ultraclass electric drive haul truck and requires no additional infrastructure. It cited extensive pilot opportunities last year, adding that scaled production could start in 2027 and beyond.
Caserones stated on the latest news:“ The pilot allows for an immediate reduction in diesel consumption and it is estimated that savings can reach up to 30 % on average. Direct emissions, one of the main sources of mining’ s carbon footprint, are also immediately reduced.”