Hitachi tests world's largest electric dump truck
Japanese giant Hitachi has announced the start of field testing of its new electric trolleybus dump truck. Testing will take place at the Kansanshi gold and copper mine in Zambia. The purpose of the tests will be to evaluate the main characteristics of the machine, auxiliary systems, as well as the impact of the electric dump truck on reducing emissions during the mining process, reports techcult.ru.
The electric dump truck is based on a specialized Hitachi EH4000 AC-3 truck. The 14-meter giant, equipped with wheels with a diameter of 74 cm, is capable of transporting up to 221 tons of cargo. The original version of the dump truck uses a 2500 hp Cummins engine.
It is expected that the electric version of the dump truck will be able to work without stopping to recharge the batteries due to a system of overhead charging lines with a voltage of 2600 V. This innovative solution made it possible to use a more compact battery while maintaining the load capacity.
The already installed charging lines are designed to simultaneously service several of these dump trucks. According to John Gregory, First Quantum's top manager, the introduction of this technology will not only significantly reduce costs, but also make mining more environmentally friendly. Completion of testing of the new Hitachi electric dump truck is scheduled for January 2025.
