Leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives, Caterpillar, on Tuesday, demonstrated its first battery electric 793 large mining truck. The company has also announced a significant investment to transform its Arizona-based proving ground into a sustainable testing and validation hub of the future.
Caterpillar completed the development of its first battery electric 793 prototypes with support from key mining customers participating in Caterpillar's Early Learner programme.
Denise Johnson, President, Resource Industries Group, Caterpillar, said, 'Our global team came together to develop this battery truck at an accelerated pace to help our customers meet their sustainability commitments. This demonstration is a significant milestone, and we are excited for these trucks to get to work at customers' sites around the world in the near future.'
The Early Learner program launched in 2021 and focuses on accelerating the development and validation of Caterpillar's battery electric trucks at participating customers' sites. Early Learner customers came together to witness a live demonstration of Caterpillar's prototype battery truck on a seven-kilometer course. During the event, Caterpillar monitored over 1,100 data channels, gathering 110,000 data points per second to validate simulation and engineering modelling capabilities. Fully loaded to its rated capacity, the truck achieved a top speed of 60 km/h (37.3 mph). The loaded truck travelled one kilometre up a 10% grade at 12 km/h (7.5 mph). The truck also performed a one-kilometer run on a 10% downhill grade, capturing the energy that would normally be lost to heat and regenerating that energy to the battery. Upon completing the entire run, the truck maintained enough battery energy to perform additional complete cycles.
Future Mine Site
The prototype truck was built at Caterpillar's Tucson Proving Ground, located in Green Valley, Arizona. In support of the energy transition, Caterpillar is investing in transforming the proving ground into a working, sustainable 'mine site of the future' by installing and utilising various renewable energy sources. The objective is to implement the same sustainable solutions mining companies will use at their operations to learn firsthand what it takes to run an electrified mine site and effectively support customers through the changes.
'The transformation of the Tucson Proving Ground allows Caterpillar to demonstrate our energy transition commitments and serve as a stronger advisor to customers as we navigate the changes together. We know it will take an integrated, site-level solution for miners to achieve their carbon-reduction goals, and we're here to help as they redefine the way they mine for generations to come,' emphasised Johnson.
As part of the site transformation, the company will install the latest advancements in sustainability technology, including green hydrogen production, natural gas and 100% hydrogen reciprocating engine power generation, fuel cell power generation and expanded energy storage systems. The site will also leverage various renewable power sources, including wind, solar and hydrogen, capable of powering the facility and its products as they become electrified. The facility's transformation will also serve as a learning platform for optimising charging and energy management integration.
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