The challenge of electrifying mining haul truck operations has taken a step forward with the launch of the CharIN Mining Taskforce, a partnership between global organisations CharIN and the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).

The partnership enables ICMM to address technical bottlenecks around the interoperability of battery-electric charging systems for the rollout of zero-emission greenhouse-gas (GHG) mining vehicles.

Diesel-powered mining vehicles currently account for 30% to 50% of direct emissions at a mine site, and up to 80% in some cases, and electrifying them will be crucial to help achieve global decarbonisation goals, the organisations note.

While CharIN has been instrumental in establishing the Combined Charging System (CCS) international standard for charging passenger electric vehicles and the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) for heavy transport, a new high-power charging solution is needed for the mining industry owing to the large size of haul trucks.

Addressing interoperability and standardisation for charging solutions early on could help reduce duplication in charging infrastructure for mines around the world – an important step in accelerating the implementation of battery-electric technology on sites, while enabling increased operational efficiency, reliability and safety.

CharIN’s more than 300 members in the e-mobility community, including manufacturers and technology suppliers, offer access to rapidly specify and test technologies.

ICMM's 26 company members provide industry expertise and access to a range of operations in different geographies and conditions. This access is critical for trials to prove these technologies are fit for the harsh environmental conditions and complex operations in mining.

Taskforce participants, including BHP, Rio Tinto, Shell, ABB and GHD, will define requirements, pilot, and test the technical capabilities of the interoperable ruggedised charging solutions in mining environments. This will aid in defining the requirements for both a higher power stationary charging plug and a dynamic (in-motion) charging interface for use on mining sites.

“CharIN members represent all the various industries in the e-mobility ecosystem, from grid to charging point operators to heavy equipment makers to standardisation and testing organisations. Our members’ in-depth knowledge of the charging ecosystem and its ISO 15118 data communication, e-mobility experience, and the technical requirements needed to develop and test new charging systems and e-mobility services make CharIN the perfect match with ICMM to efficiently and thoroughly define the requirements of future charging standards as requested in the mining and marine industry,” says CharIN chairperson Claas Bracklo.

“Value chain collaboration will be critical in helping us get to net zero. Through ICMM’s Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles initiative, we’ve identified technical bottlenecks affecting progress in implementing zero-emissions vehicles at mining operations globally, that we’re now creating partnerships to drive progress on.

"ICMM is thrilled to partner with CharIN, which has extensive experience in solving battery charging interoperability challenges across other industrial sectors and works with an exciting roster of manufacturing and technology companies. The scale of ICMM’s membership will enhance opportunities for piloting and testing solutions at certain identified sites with the aim of ultimately accelerating progress on the wider roll-out of a new generation of zero-emission mining vehicles for the industry,” adds ICMM innovation director Christian Spano.