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https://thedriven.io/2025/10/27/rio-tinto-launches-battery-swap-electric-truck-trial-fleet-at-giant-copper-mine/>
"Mining giant Rio Tinto says it has begun trialling battery swap technology for
electric haul trucks at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia.
The trial, to be run in collaboration with China’s State Power Investment
Corporation (SPIC) Qiyuan, is Rio Tinto’s first use of battery swap electric
haul trucks in surface mining operations.
A fleet of eight 91-tonne battery electric haul trucks, made by Tonly Heavy
Industries (Tonly) have been brought to the mine, along with 13 batteries, each
coming in at 800 kilowatt-hours (kWh). There is also a battery swapping
station, static charger, and supporting infrastructure have also been
installed.
The eight trucks will be used for tailings dam construction and topsoil
transportation tasks, providing Rio Tinto with hands-on experience for
operating and maintaining a complete battery electric truck and battery swap
charging station.
“The launch of this trial with SPIC Qiyuan is an important milestone,
harnessing China’s widely used and leading battery swap technology in a
partnership that supports Rio Tinto’s drive to accelerate low-carbon
innovation,” said Ben Woffenden, Rio Tinto general manager for global equipment
and diesel transition.
“By working with partners such as SPIC Qiyuan and Tonly, Rio Tinto is rapidly
identifying and adopting cost-effective, proven innovations that can support
operational excellence and advance decarbonisation goals.”
The trial will operate through to the end of 2026, helping Rio Tinto to
identify other opportunities to adopt battery swap technology and battery
electric haul trucks across its global operations."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
