Rio Tinto , a major global player in mining, has announced a strategic collaboration with China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) to demonstrate the effectiveness of battery swapping technology for electric haul trucks at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia.
Benefits of battery swapping
This technology allows electric trucks to replace discharged batteries with fully charged ones in just 7 minutes , optimizing operating time compared to static charging. The project will feature eight transport trucks with a payload of 91 tons, each equipped with 800 kWh batteries and an advanced robotic station for managing these operations.
Jonathon McCarthy, Rio Tinto’s director of decarbonisation, said:
This trial will allow us to evaluate the flexibility and efficiency offered by battery swapping technology. We are excited to be working with SPIC to explore its potential to significantly reduce our emissions.
In addition, Deirdre Lingenfelder, CEO of Oyu Tolgoi, underlined the key role of this mine in the transition towards more sustainable mining . She added that this initiative is part of Rio Tinto’s long-term commitment to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 .
The first electric truck will arrive at Oyu Tolgoi this year, with the full infrastructure expected to be operational by mid-2025. The project will also serve as a complement to other electrification trials Rio Tinto plans to implement in the Pilbara region.
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Source: Rio Tinto
Photo: shutterstock
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