The electrification of mining haul trucks has taken a step forward with the launch of the CharIN Mining Task Force, a partnership between charging standards body CharIN and the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). The task force will address technical bottlenecks around the interoperability of charging systems for zero-emission mining vehicles.

These are enormous trucks we’re talking about, with carbon footprints to match. Diesel-powered mining vehicles typically account for 30 to 50% of direct emissions at a mine site, and up to 80% in some cases. CharIN has been instrumental in establishing the CCS standard for charging passenger EVs and the  new Megawatt Charging System (MCS) for heavy transport, but the massive haul trucks used at mines will require a new high-power charging solution.

Companies also need  to prove that EVs are fit for the harsh environmental conditions and complex operations in mining. Taskforce participants, including BHP, Rio Tinto, Shell, ABB and GHD, will define requirements, pilot and test the technical capabilities of interoperable ruggedized charging solutions in mining environments. This will aid in defining the requirements for both a higher-power stationary charging plug and a dynamic (in-motion) charging interface for use on mining sites.

“Developing an interoperability framework for battery electric equipment is a complex jigsaw that cannot be accomplished without a new level of technical collaboration across the mining and e-mobility industries,” said Anna Wiley, Vice President, Planning and Technical, BHP.

“CharIN members represent all the various industries in the e-mobility ecosystem, from grid to charging point operators to heavy equipment makers to standardisation and testing organizations,” said Claas Bracklo, Chairman of CharIN e.V. “Our members’ in-depth knowledge of the charging ecosystem and its ISO 15118 data communication, e-mobility experience, and the technical requirements needed to develop and test new charging systems and e-mobility services make CharIN the perfect match with ICMM to define the requirements of future charging standards as requested in the mining and marine industry.”

“Through ICMM’s Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles initiative, we’ve identified technical bottlenecks affecting progress in implementing zero emissions vehicles at mining operations globally, that we’re now creating partnerships to drive progress on,” said Christian Spano, Director of Innovation, ICMM.

Source: ICMM