Scania has deployed a fully electric heavy-duty dump truck at the LKAB mine in Malmberget, in northern Sweden, to work alongside an electric crane truck specially adapted for mining operations.
Scania and LKAB are both operating in industries that are currently undergoing significant shifts to reach a higher level of sustainability. The route to a safe, productive and carbon emission free iron and steel industry starts with the iron ore in the mines, and is now extended to also include transport. In this regard, LKAB is striving to become one of the most sustainable mining companies in the world.
Peter Gustavsson, project manager at LKAB, says: “The electric trucks are part of an ambition to set a new standard for sustainable mining, where fossil-free is used all the way. We are shifting our fleet away from fossil diesel and as we are testing the capacity of battery-powered electric vehicles, decisions are taken with respect to the choice of trucks must not only contribute to higher productivity but, above all, also a more sustainable mine and a safer work environment.”
The electric dump truck has a total weight including load of 49 tonnes and will transport residual products. The second truck is equipped with a crane, purpose-fit to transport drill steel to underground drill rigs. The electric truck with the crane will be charged at the depot, but mobile charging at the sites will also be possible to increase flexibility. The vehicles are expected to start operations at LKAB during 2022.
Fredrik Allard, head of e-mobility, Scania, says: “We continue to work with customers that are willing to try innovative solutions together with us. For Scania it is very valuable to be able to test electric vehicles in the extreme environment in real customers operations in the mine. On top of that, the electric heavy tipper is the first of its kind in the industry and another really big step on the journey towards sustainable transport solutions across all applications.”
“Scania’s entry into our transformation process is valuable because it gives us the opportunity to evaluate their battery powered vehicles. Together we hope to develop and build fossil-free vehicles that are as productive or even more so than the ones we currently have,” says Gustavsson.
This year, Scania will also deliver a 74-tonne electrified truck (including load and trailer) to Swedish mining company Boliden. The truck will be driven by haulage company Renfors Åkeri AB on a 30 km return-trip route on public roads by the mine in northern Sweden.
Investing in the electrified truck is a part of Boliden’s aim to decrease its CO2-emissions with 40% by 2030.
”To try an electrified solution for very heavy vehicles at an early stage and contribute to the development and transition to sustainable solutions are very much in line with our agenda. The electrified Scania truck will reduce emissions in one of the most important flows in our operations and further strengthen our high climate performance,” says Jonas Ranggård, programme manager, Boliden.