BATTERY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
circuit withstand testing then examined whether the system remained mechanically secure and electrically stable long enough for protection devices to detect faults and isolate power.
“ The completed program provides evidence that the enclosed architecture can contain the mechanical effects of severe fault events, while informing the next iteration of material and design improvements ahead of field deployment,” BluVein says.
That laboratory work sits alongside realworld environmental exposure testing on rail sections installed in an underground mine in northern Queensland over a 12-month period, where dust, moisture and corrosive elements can progressively affect electrical performance.
Over the next six months, BluVein is progressing a live truck on rail demonstration at Heidelberg Materials in Queensland, moving through a staged sequence covering mechanical testing, vision systems, truck to rail envelope validation and full power testing with the truck on rail. This will involve a Minetruck MT42 that has been converted from diesel power to battery power, to battery-trolley power, as well as another Minetruck MT42 SG that was previously working on more conventional trolley in a battery-trolley prototype setup.
Other makes and models of equipment are expected to join this testing line-up in the future.
The broader commercial case is being assessed through mine simulation. Using BluVein system and operating inputs, MasterMined Innovation’ s GreenLeap platform evaluated grid to truck in motion charging performance across gradients, haul cycles, traffic interactions and operating conditions. The modelling identified a pathway to faster cycle times, lower haulage costs and reduced fleet size, according to the companies.
BluVein said of this modelling:“ In the underground case, static battery stop-toswap resulted in an annual mine production penalty, while the BluVein-enabled electric haulage case significantly improved cycle and annual production performance by maintaining higher speeds on grade and avoiding battery stop-to-swap or stop-tocharge downtime. It also lowered the total cost per tonne.”
The study also reinforced what the report describes as the ventilation dividend, BluVein says, explaining that diesel haulage remains a major source of underground heat and diesel particulate matter, and that burden intensifies as mines go deeper, making the reduction in ventilation and refrigeration load a significant mine level value driver.
In the surface case, by adding grid to truck in motion powering and charging BluVein technology, this resulted in materially reduced diesel usage, reduced cycle time and lowered total cost per tonne. The modelling also points to a broader strategic requirement. BluVein explained:“ As hybrid and electric drive haul trucks in the 60-t-plus class become increasingly relevant to mine electrification strategies, the requirement is not only for truck powering and charging infrastructure, but for an open, interoperable connector architecture capable of supplying grid power across mixed fleets. The BluVein miner led, OEM agnostic philosophy reflects a view among consortium participants that future electrification pathways should not be confined to proprietary, truck or offboard power specific systems.”
A battery-electric first
Sandvik Mining is also considering a form of battery-trolley operation in the future as was made clear at MINExpo 2024 with the reveal of its trolley module.
In the last 12 months, the OEM expanded its battery-electric underground drill offering to include a first of its kind battery-powered cable bolter, the DS422iE.
The Sandvik DS422iE is a battery-electric rock reinforcement drill rig designed for cement grouted cable-bolt installation in underground mines and tunnels. It uses LFP battery power instead of a diesel engine and offers zero emissions tramming, drilling, strands per hole. The drill rig has an onboard automatic cement mixer and 600-kgcapacity cement silo, reducing the need for manual handling and refilling between holes.
Sandvik’ s patented Charging While Drilling technology enables the Sandvik DS422iE to execute a full drilling cycle on battery power, with batteries capable of continued operations up to four hours where no electrical network is available, the company says.
“[ The ] Sandvik DS422iE is the first battery-electric cable bolter on the market, marking another significant milestone in Sandvik’ s BEV competencies,” Ari Kopperoinen, Product Manager, Rock Support Drills at Sandvik, says.“ The ability to continue rehab work off-grid using battery power is a transformative feature for mines with an unstable electrical grid. Combined with our industry-leading battery technology, operations have never been more productive or independent.”
The Sandvik DS422iE builds on the core features of the Sandvik DS422i diesel machine, including one-hole automation, repeatable bolting accuracy, teleremote and full fan automation and an ergonomically designed cabin with 55 % increased visibility. It is also compatible with Sandvik’ s digital offering including iSURE ®, Sandvik DrillConnect, Digital Driller™ and My Sandvik remote monitoring. Bolting operations are optimised by using Sandvik Ground Support cable bolts, it added.
When it comes to load and haul, Sandvik
The Sandvik DS422iE is a battery-electric rock reinforcement drill rig designed for cement grouted cable-bolt installation in underground mines and tunnels
bolting and grouting.
Thanks to its revolutionary electric driveline system, the highly automated cable bolter consumes no fuel and generates less heat and noise than conventional drivelines. The result is safer, healthier and more productive cable bolting in underground operations, the OEM added.
The Sandvik DS422iE can install up to 25-m-long cable bolts with several steel recently celebrated a major battery-electric win with Eldorado Gold, an intermediate gold and base metals producer.
At the end of last year, the pair announced that Eldorado had selected Sandvik to supply 10 BEVs, plus 10 charging systems, for its Lamaque Complex in Vald’ Or, Québec.
The orders include five Sandvik TH550B trucks and five Toro ® LH518iB loaders.
International Mining | APRIL 2025