🟢Announcing that it will convert diesel mining trucks to electric in 2021 together with #ABB, #Hitachi shared that the first vehicle has been produced.
⛏️The giant truck started to be used in a copper-gold mine in Zambia. It climbs with an electrical connection that feeds the battery, similar to a trolleybus, while going to pick up load. When turning downhill while loaded, it recharges its battery thanks to regenerative braking.
🔋In this way, ABB and Hitachi completed the transformation with a smaller one instead of a megawatt-hour battery. They made this possible thanks to the regenerative braking ability of the huge electric motors seen in the prototype photo.
🔌Mining truck’s previously had a giant internal combustion engine with 16 cylinders and 2,534 horsepower. It will relatively reduce the impact of mining on the environment by ending diesel consumption and zeroing out emissions after the conversion to electric.