120-tonne electric haulers at Malmberget mine
LKAB has successfully put two massive 120-tonne battery-electric Scania trucks to work in its Malmberget iron ore mine.
These vehicles are tackling the heavy lifting at depths reaching 1,250 meters. Since they started, they have already moved over 100,000 tonnes of iron ore. This is a significant step forward from the standard diesel-powered haulers that LKAB used for years in the same tunnels.
▪️ Immediate torque: Unlike diesel engines, electric motors deliver full power instantly, which helps when climbing steep ramps out of the deep mine.
▪️ Cleaner air: These trucks produce no exhaust fumes, removing the need for the massive, energy-intensive ventilation systems required by traditional diesel engines.
▪️ Reduced wear: The simplified electric drivetrain has fewer moving parts, which lowers the maintenance burden in the harsh, dusty underground environment.
While traditional diesel trucks have dominated mining operations for decades, this move to electric power changes how deep-earth logistics work. By cutting out the combustion process, the mine no longer needs the complex, non-stop air scrubbing that previously kept the tunnels breathable for the crew.
#Mining #EV #Innovation
Interesting Engineering
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LKAB has successfully put two massive 120-tonne battery-electric Scania trucks to work in its Malmberget iron ore mine.
These vehicles are tackling the heavy lifting at depths reaching 1,250 meters. Since they started, they have already moved over 100,000 tonnes of iron ore. This is a significant step forward from the standard diesel-powered haulers that LKAB used for years in the same tunnels.
▪️ Immediate torque: Unlike diesel engines, electric motors deliver full power instantly, which helps when climbing steep ramps out of the deep mine.
▪️ Cleaner air: These trucks produce no exhaust fumes, removing the need for the massive, energy-intensive ventilation systems required by traditional diesel engines.
▪️ Reduced wear: The simplified electric drivetrain has fewer moving parts, which lowers the maintenance burden in the harsh, dusty underground environment.
While traditional diesel trucks have dominated mining operations for decades, this move to electric power changes how deep-earth logistics work. By cutting out the combustion process, the mine no longer needs the complex, non-stop air scrubbing that previously kept the tunnels breathable for the crew.
Heavy industry is finally finding cleaner ways to move mountains.
#Mining #EV #Innovation
Interesting Engineering
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❤2
Electric heavy trucks mining 8,500 feet deep in Sudbury
Glencore Canada has fully transitioned to an all-electric operation at its nickel and copper mine in Sudbury, Ontario, reaching 8,500 feet below the surface.
Deep mining usually relies on heavy diesel engines that create hazardous fumes and extreme heat in narrow tunnels. This forces mines to run massive, energy-intensive ventilation systems just to keep the air safe for workers. By replacing these diesel machines with electric ones, the site reduces both emissions and the need for complex cooling and air circulation infrastructure.
This approach replaces the reliance on the heavy diesel-burning machinery that previously defined the extraction process at this specific location.
This change demonstrates that heavy industrial work deep underground can function cleanly.
#Glencore #mining #EV
Electrek
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Glencore Canada has fully transitioned to an all-electric operation at its nickel and copper mine in Sudbury, Ontario, reaching 8,500 feet below the surface.
Deep mining usually relies on heavy diesel engines that create hazardous fumes and extreme heat in narrow tunnels. This forces mines to run massive, energy-intensive ventilation systems just to keep the air safe for workers. By replacing these diesel machines with electric ones, the site reduces both emissions and the need for complex cooling and air circulation infrastructure.
This approach replaces the reliance on the heavy diesel-burning machinery that previously defined the extraction process at this specific location.
This change demonstrates that heavy industrial work deep underground can function cleanly.
Deep mining is finally ditching the diesel.
#Glencore #mining #EV
Electrek
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