Australian mining company BHP has announced that it has taken delivery of Australia's first battery-electric Cat® 793 XE Early Learner trucks at its Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara.
The two trucks were delivered as part of a unique collaboration between BHP, Rio Tinto and Caterpillar, with support from equipment dealer WesTrac. The initiative represents an important milestone for Australia's mining industry as it begins the transition away from diesel-fuelled operations.
Once commissioning is complete, the trucks will enter structured testing programs designed to assess their performance.
Tests to assess the feasibility of a net-zero fleet emissions
During the testing phase, BHP and Rio Tinto will evaluate performance compared to diesel trucks, battery life, charging cycles and fleet management requirements, infrastructure needs for large-scale electrification, and integration with existing mining processes and workforce capabilities.
After the joint testing phase Each company will decide for itself whether to move forward with larger pilot projects in its respective operations.
