First pictures of the massive EV trucks set to revolutionise Australia’s mines

Mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto are set to launch giant battery powered EV trucks, with the heavy duty vehicles much larger than a pick up truck developed by Tesla. 

The multi-billion dollar corporations are taking yet anther step to revolutionise Australia’s mining sector, with the companies set to trial two battery-electric haul trucks at mining sites in the mining rich Pilbara region, in Western Australia. 

The first pictures of the large earth movers have been released, after BHP and Rio Tinto partnered up with renowned manufactures Caterpillar (CAT) and Komatsu, to test and develop the off-road trucks. 

Two CAT 793 haul trucks will be trialed in the second half of 2024, while two Komatsu 930 trucks will be trialed in 2026 with both manufacturers to provide one truck each to BHP and Rio Tinto.

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The massive trucks are huge compared to the Cybertruck that Tesla launched in December last year, as the mineral companies continue to march towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, said the battery-powered and stainless steel clad truck was a more practical alternative for motorists, with the pick-up possessing a towing capacity of almost 5,000kg. 

But by comparison, the CAT 793 can haul a whopping 240 tonnes – with the EV giant carrying its maximum rated load at 60km/h.

Further independent tests of the large haul trucks will measure how the battery powered vehicles will perform on mining sites and how the trucks will be charged using the charging systems. 

Geraldine Slattery, President of BHP Australia said the testing and development of these trucks will help Australia’s mining industry to be powered by battery operated vehicles. 

‘Operational decarbonisation relies on breakthroughs in technology and partnerships like this will help drive our industry forward,’ she said.

‘Replacing diesel as a fuel source requires us to develop a whole new operational ecosystem to surround the fleet.’

Ms Slattery said a fleet of battery powered trucks would reduce the reliance on diesel powered vehicles.

‘We’ve already seen a step-change reduction in Scope 1 and 2 operational greenhouse gas emissions through switching some of our supply to renewable electricity, and we are looking to build on that progress through development of battery-electric technology,’ she said. 

Simon Trott, Chief Iron Ore Executive at Rio Tinto, said the trials will help lead the way for the mining industry and other companies to go all-electric. 

‘This collaboration brings together two leading global miners with two of the world’s biggest manufacturers of haul trucks to work on solving the critical challenge of zero-emissions haulage,’ he said. 

‘Testing two types of battery-electric haul trucks in Pilbara conditions will provide better data, and by combining our efforts with BHP we will accelerate learning.’ 

The two manufacturers will use the trial to help them design more trucks, to enable the mining giants to be powered by a fleet of heavy duty vehicles that will be run entirely on electric and battery power. 

The trial comes after BHP signed a deal with the Japanese carmaker Toyota last year, to help develop the first all- electric versions of their legendary Landcruiser and HiLux utes and 4WDs. 

The company cut green house gas emissions by 21 per cent in 2021 however, carbon emissions from burning diesel was worth 40 per cent of BHP’s direct and indirect emissions in 2020.