China Launches World's Largest Fleet of Autonomous Electric Mining Trucks
A fleet of 100 autonomous electric mining trucks begins operations in Inner Mongolia, marking a significant advancement in the mining sector.
A fleet of 100 autonomous electric mining trucks has commenced operations at the Yimin open-pit mine in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China.
This deployment represents the largest-scale application of autonomous mining vehicles in the world.
The trucks, developed collaboratively by China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., Huawei, and Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG), are designed to modernize coal mining practices through advanced technology and sustainable methods.
Equipped with a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network, these unmanned vehicles are capable of operating at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour while carrying loads of 90 tonnes.
They are engineered to function continuously in extreme cold, enduring temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius, which poses challenges in traditional mining operations.
The operations at the Yimin mine are reported to be round-the-clock, facilitated by cutting-edge technology including lidar, millimeter-wave radar, cameras, and artificial intelligence algorithms that enhance the trucks' ability to navigate and operate in low-visibility conditions, such as during snowstorms and nighttime.
Each truck is powered by a robust 564 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, and battery replacement has been streamlined to take less than six minutes.
The mine manager, Shu Yingqiu, stated that transitioning from fossil-fueled vehicles to this electric fleet could result in significant reductions in diesel consumption by 15,000 tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by 48,000 tonnes annually, which is equivalent to the carbon offset of approximately 2.6 million fir trees.
China Huaneng has plans to expand the fleet of unmanned mining trucks at the Yimin mine to between 300 and 500 units in the coming years, with intentions to replicate this initiative in other mining areas, including regions in northwest China like Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The Yimin coal mine spans an area of 42.36 square kilometers and has an estimated coal reserve of approximately 1.86 billion tonnes.
Currently, China Huaneng operates with an annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes at this site, highlighting the mine's critical role in China's energy landscape.
This deployment represents the largest-scale application of autonomous mining vehicles in the world.
The trucks, developed collaboratively by China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., Huawei, and Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG), are designed to modernize coal mining practices through advanced technology and sustainable methods.
Equipped with a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network, these unmanned vehicles are capable of operating at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour while carrying loads of 90 tonnes.
They are engineered to function continuously in extreme cold, enduring temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius, which poses challenges in traditional mining operations.
The operations at the Yimin mine are reported to be round-the-clock, facilitated by cutting-edge technology including lidar, millimeter-wave radar, cameras, and artificial intelligence algorithms that enhance the trucks' ability to navigate and operate in low-visibility conditions, such as during snowstorms and nighttime.
Each truck is powered by a robust 564 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, and battery replacement has been streamlined to take less than six minutes.
The mine manager, Shu Yingqiu, stated that transitioning from fossil-fueled vehicles to this electric fleet could result in significant reductions in diesel consumption by 15,000 tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by 48,000 tonnes annually, which is equivalent to the carbon offset of approximately 2.6 million fir trees.
China Huaneng has plans to expand the fleet of unmanned mining trucks at the Yimin mine to between 300 and 500 units in the coming years, with intentions to replicate this initiative in other mining areas, including regions in northwest China like Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The Yimin coal mine spans an area of 42.36 square kilometers and has an estimated coal reserve of approximately 1.86 billion tonnes.
Currently, China Huaneng operates with an annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes at this site, highlighting the mine's critical role in China's energy landscape.
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