The three companies Boliden, Epiroc and ABB have implemented the first fully battery-electric powered mine trolley system on a test track in a mine in Sweden with a length of 800 meters and a 13 percent gradient. The achievement represents a key moment for the mining industry, which is being called upon to respond to growing pressures to balance increased production of key minerals and metals with reduced carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption. Demand for minerals essential to society’s evolution toward clean energy is projected to increase 1.5 to 7 times by 2030.
Another step toward the electric mine of the future
Electrification of mining also promises to improve the health and safety of workers in an environment without emissions, noise and vibration while reducing the total cost per ton.
“Over the past three years, we have been working closely with ABB and Epiroc teams to take another step toward the electric mine of the future. The most important thing for us, of course, is that the technology works in our own facilities, but we also see added value in the fact that we, together with our partners, can drive the development of the technology so that the system can be used in other mines,” said Peter Bergman, General Manager Boliden Area, Boliden.
Each partner provided a unique package of expertise for the development process. Epiroc added dynamic charging to its proven Minetruck MT42 SG battery-electric truck, equipping the solution with ABB’s DC converter, HES880 inverters, and AMXE motors to increase power.
