BATTERY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Flexibility for the electrification evolution
In a quarry just outside Brisbane, Queensland, a retrofitted Minetruck MT42 is being put through its paces in a very different environment under the BluVein1 project.
BluVein and its partners are advancing its BluVein1 grid to truck in motion powering and charging system through three linked streams of validation:
• Completed extreme condition electrical testing at KEMA Labs in Germany;
• Live truck on rail demonstration work at Heidelberg Materials in Queensland; and
• Mine level modelling using Master Mined Innovation’ s GreenLeap platform.
The work shows that grid to truck in motion powering and charging is moving beyond concept stage and toward a safe, practical and commercially viable mining solution, the company says.“ The proposition is not simply about powering and charging a truck in motion from a mains power or green power grid, but about doing so through an open, OEM-agnostic architecture that gives miners greater flexibility as fleet and mine electrification evolves.”
That point sits at the heart of the BluVein story. The program is supported by ARENA( Australian Renewable Energy Agency) and advanced through the BluVein Consortium,
An Epiroc MT42 SG with the BluVein hammer integrated onto it at BluVein headquarters
a group led by mining companies seeking practical ways to reduce reliance on diesel, greenhouse gas production and diesel particulates while avoiding the constraints of proprietary, truck-specific electrification pathways. For these operators, the attraction extends beyond emissions reduction. It includes improved air quality for underground workers, lower haulage costs, reduced ventilation and refrigeration requirements, and the ability to maintain or improve productivity as mines become deeper and hotter.
During the extreme condition electrical testing at KEMA, BluVein’ s slotted rail and vehicle mounted collector system, known as the Hammer, was subjected to extreme voltage withstand, impulse, arc and short circuit testing designed to simulate severe electrical fault conditions relevant to mining applications, the company explained.“ The aim was not simply to verify normal operation, but to understand how the system behaves when pushed well beyond its expected operating range and whether fault events remain controlled and predictable,” it said.
Arc testing formed the centrepiece of the KEMA campaign, with DC arcs deliberately initiated beneath the rail, at joints and at the moving collector interface to observe how energy was released and contained. Short
MineTrans
Electric Power. Reliable Transport.
MineTrans from Becker Mining Systems delivers powerful rail-mounted transport solutions for underground mining. Electric monorail systems ensure the safe and reliable transport of personnel, equipment, and heavy materials – even on steep inclines and in demanding environments.
Efficient transport. Lower emissions. Proven performance.
Find out more at: www. becker-mining. com / minetrans
International Mining | APRIL 2025