Caterpillar is powering a massive 240-ton electric hauler

Mining company Vale is turning to Caterpillar to supply this massive 240-tonne battery-electric truck in a bid to cut carbon emissions at its mines by 2030.

Caterpillar and Vale have signed an agreement that will see the Brazilian miner test heavy-duty battery electric mining trucks such as the 793 BEV (above), as well as V2G/V2x powertrain systems and alcohol-powered trucks. The testing will help Vale make better equipment choices as it works to achieve its goals of reducing its direct and indirect carbon emissions by 33% by 2030 and eliminating 100% of its net emissions by 2050.

If this sounds strange, keep in mind that most cars and trucks in Brazil run on either pure ethyl alcohol/ethanol (E100) or “gasohol” (E25).

“We are developing a range of options to decarbonise Vale’s operations, including electrification and the use of alternative fuels in mines. The most viable solutions will be adopted,” explains Ludmila Nascimento, Vale’s Energy and Decarbonisation Director. Ethanol has great potential to contribute to achieving the 2030 target because it is a fuel that has already been widely adopted in Brazil, with an established supply network, and which requires active partnership with manufacturers. We stand together to support them in achieving this goal.”

Vale will test a 240-tonne Cat 793 battery electric hauler at its operations in Minas Gerais, and will put power transmission solutions to similar tests at Vale’s operations in Pará over the next two to three years. Caterpillar and Vale have also agreed to conduct a joint study on the feasibility of a dual fuel (ethanol/diesel) solution for existing ICE-powered assets.

Vale claims to be the world’s largest producer of iron ore and nickel, and says it is committed to investing between $4 billion and $6 billion to meet its 2030 target.

CAT 793 electric pickup truck

During its 2022 debut, the Cat 793 hauler was demonstrated on a 4.3-mile test track at the company’s proving ground in Tucson. There, the 240-ton truck managed a top speed of over 37 mph (60 km/h) fully loaded. Additional testing involved climbing the 10% loaded truck for a full kilometer at 7.5 mph before unloading and turning to descend, using regenerative braking to return power to the battery on the way down.

Although detailed specifications were not provided, Caterpillar representatives reported that the 793 still had enough charge in its batteries to complete more test cycles.

Take Electric

Caterpillar electric mining truck
Cat 793 EV when launched in 2022; via Caterpillar.

Electrical and mining equipment go together like peanut butter and jelly. In confined spaces, the intense carbon emissions and noise generated by conventional mining equipment can create dangerous conditions for miners and operators, and this can lead to injury or long-term disability that will only worsen the mining operation’s ability to keep people working and minerals coming out. from Earth.

By working with companies like Vale to prove that forward-looking electric equipment can do the job as well as (if not better) than their internal combustion counterparts, Caterpillar will go a long way toward converting the ICE faithful.

Sources | photo: Caterpillar, construction equipment, and E&MJ.

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