Hitachi tests first electric dump truck to meet growing demand for electric mining equipment

A Hitachi battery-powered rigid dump truck has been shipped to Africa for feasibility trials to be conducted by Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) and First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

An increasing demand for electric equipment

The engineless machine was tested at HCM’s Hitachinaka-Rinko Works in Japan before it was sent to the Kansanshi copper and gold mine in Zambia in January. The trials are scheduled to begin mid-2024 and aim to verify the performance of the dump truck – assessing travelling, turning, stopping under actual operating loads, as well as battery charging and discharging cycles.

Demand for electric equipment is increasing in line with growing environmental awareness in the mining industry and a desire to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To meet this demand, HCM started collaborating with ABB in June 2021 to develop a full battery dump truck.

HCM accelerated the development speed of the truck by applying proven technology from its existing trolley charging type rigid dump trucks. Basic operations were tested at Hitachinaka-Rinko Works by gradually combining the battery charging and discharging system, pantograph, and other power supply systems with the drive system that controls the travel of the dump truck.

A zero-emission partnership

Much of the infrastructure required for full battery dump trucks is already in place at Kansanshi copper and gold mine, which is operated by First Quantum Minerals Ltd. The company operates 41 Hitachi diesel-powered trolley trucks (39 EH3500AC-II and two EH3500AC-3).

Looking to the future, HCM will continue to collaborate with customers while using its expertise in the development of diesel trolley trucks, as well as its extensive delivery record, to accelerate the development speed of the full battery dump truck. In doing so, it aims to contribute to achieving virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions from mining machinery.