20 January 2023
by Sarah Morgan

First prototype battery system for a zero-emission mining haul truck

The largest battery of its kind has been delivered to Australia and is ready to be installed in a prototype, zero-emission, battery electric, mining haul truck.

© WAE

The state-of-the-art 1.4MWh prototype power system is a bespoke design intended for integration into a 240t mining haul truck, which Fortescue is developing with Liebherr and WAE Technologies..  

The battery will be integral to Fortescue’s US$6.2bln decarbonisation strategy to help eliminate fossil fuels from its terrestrial iron ore operations.  

A team of 50 engineers and technicians are responsible for developing the pioneering power system, which weighs 15t, measures 3.6m long, 1.6m wide and 2.4m high, and is made up of eight sub-packs, each with 36 modules, all individually cooled and each with its own battery management system.

It has been completed in record time and marks several firsts for an electric mining haul truck battery, with energy storage of 1.4MWH, the ability to fast-charge in 30 minutes and capacity to regenerate power as it drives downhill. 

The battery will be assembled and installed, before its transported to the Pilbara for testing on site in 2023.

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