Canada-based underground mining equipment manufacturer MacLean will supply 30 of its GR8 EV graders to Australian metal mining company Fortescue for its surface mining operations in Western Australia. 

The units will be powered by Fortescue Zero battery power systems. Delivery is slated to begin in 2026, and the full fleet is expected to be operational in 2029.

“Our track record to date is 25 vehicle models battery electrified, 100 EV units sold from bolters to boom trucks to shotcrete sprayers to graders, and half a million operating hours logged.  Now we’re turning our sights to surface mining operations,” said MacLean’s CEO, Kevin MacLean. “We’re taking all the learnings from our GR5 Underground Grader commercialization and our years of experience in underground BEV design, manufacturing, and site support and putting it to good use in the context of surface mining electrification.”

Source: Fortescue