News

May 28, 2024

Epiroc flips the electric switch

As a leading productivity partner for the mining sector, Epiroc understands that much of the industry’s future lies in the use of battery-electric vehicles. From the moment Epiroc launched its first

As a leading productivity partner for the mining sector, Epiroc understands that much of the industry’s future lies in the use of battery-electric vehicles.

From the moment Epiroc launched its first battery-driven product – the Scooptram ST7 Battery – in May 2016, the Swedish company has been a pioneer in the electrification movement.

Epiroc’s electrified solutions product and sales support lead Brett Kenley said it best himself.

“We are leading the charge towards sustainability in mining through electric battery-driven, zero-emission equipment,” he said.

“A power change that changes everything.”

So what are the benefits of an electric vehicle fleet? According to Epiroc, three advantages stand out.

“A battery-driven electric fleet provides a powerful opportunity to lessen the environmental footprint and create a healthier work environment,” Kenley said.

“Electric battery-powered machinery brings savings on energy bills, maintenance, ventilation, cooling, and personnel health.

“(And) electric battery-powered machines are reliable, robust, highly productive and great-performing.”

The Scooptram ST7 Battery was just the start of Epiroc’s battery-powered journey to a more sustainable future.

Not a company to rest on its laurels, Epiroc has since has evolved its battery-electric vehicle (BEV) range to include underground trucks and drills, with a battery-operated surface drill rig also in the pipeline, having recently commenced trials in Sweden.

In 2017, the company started development of a battery platform involving scalable, modular architecture that could be used across its product range, from the smallest to largest machines.

Then in November 2018, Epiroc unveiled its second-generation BEV range, including a number of larger machines that appealed to a broader market, particularly the Australian mining industry.

Providing BEVs was one thing, but supporting the transition to electrified machines was another, especially for a mining industry that had long been diesel-dependent.

When Epiroc rolled out its Batteries as a Service (BaaS) business model to remove the obstacles that come with a transition to the technology, it provided an ‘instant technology leap’ to battery-electric machinery.

BaaS moves the upfront costs of batteries from capital expenditure to operational expenditure, with the responsibility assumed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

“A key component to the success of this offering is the flexibility it allows our customers,” Epiroc Canada product manager – Rocvolt Shawn Samuels said soon after BaaS was launched.

“We take ownership of the battery itself and automatically replace and update the units as needed, which means the mine site can breathe easier and continue to focus on heightened production.”

With BaaS, Epiroc monitors clients’ battery performance and replaces the batteries when needed, ensuring BEVs have the required capacity at all times, along with the flexibility to install the latest technology when available.

In July 2020, Epiroc announced its first BaaS customer, with major miner Vale taking on 10 Epiroc BEVs for two of its Canadian mine sites.

Epiroc’s BEV range today boasts the Scooptram ST14 and ST18 battery loaders. With an 18-tonne capacity, the ST18 has excellent digging ability and higher lifting, making it the perfect companion for Epiroc’s mine trucks.

In December 2021, Epiroc joined forces with a major gold miner to convert one of its panel caves into an integrated semi-autonomous operation.

The Scooptram ST18 has been a key part of this, with the loader going through several stages to be ready for automated operation.

A spokesperson for the gold miner said Epiroc had been pivotal in supporting its workforce through the transformation.

Capable of 24–7 production across seven drives of the panel cave and with further expansions to come, the project highlights Epiroc’s ability to deliver a fully-developed autonomous system for a mining operation.

Epiroc said they are also working on a larger loader, the Scooptram ST2X, which will be battery operated only.

The OEM’s BEV range also includes the Minetruck MT42 Battery. The MT42 is known for its speed up inclines, accelerating dump cycles and increasing overall productivity.

And the advantages of going electric in underground mining extend beyond the machines themselves.

Given one of the most significant expenditures of underground operations is traditionally related to ventilation from the use of diesel engines, electric machinery means costs can be significantly reduced.

“Diesel-free equipment allows you to fundamentally change the design of the mining infrastructure to lower operating costs and boost productivity,” Kenley said.

“Cool-running electric equipment also opens the door to new, more efficient ways of mining underground.”

Epiroc also has a Minetruck MT2200 in the works, which is a next generation version of its MT2010. This is set to become available with a battery option in 2024.

Then there’s Epiroc’s mining and exploration (M&E) drilling fleet, which includes the Boomer E2 Battery zero-emission face drill rig, which has an onboard charger, large battery and powerful motor to enable long tramming distances.

The M&E drilling fleet also includes the Boltec M Battery, which is among the most advanced and productive fully mechanised rock bolting machines in its size class.

In early July, Epiroc announced it was trialling the first-ever battery-electric surface drill rig in collaboration with Swedish construction company Skanska. The rig’s design is based on Epiroc’s renowned SmartROC T35 surface drill rig.

The SmartROC T35 E will harness Epiroc’s vast experience in the development of underground battery rigs, with Skanska to test the rig at a quarry near Stockholm, Sweden. Following the trial, Epiroc will announce when the SmartROC T35 E will be available to the market.

As Epiroc continues its battery-powered electrification journey, the OEM aims to offer its complete fleet of underground mining equipment as battery-electric versions by 2025, and its full fleet for surface operations as battery-powered versions by 2030.

This feature appeared in the August issue of Australian Resources & Investment.