BHP and Rio Tinto welcome first Caterpillar battery-electric haul trucks to the Pilbara
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251204183951/en/
The two Early Learner trucks, delivered through an industry-first collaboration between BHP,
Once safely commissioned, the trials will begin to test the viability of battery-electric technology as an alternative to diesel usage in large-scale iron ore mining operations. The trials will help inform the development of technology, processes, infrastructure and people required to support lower greenhouse gas emissions machines and mine sites of the future.
Decarbonisation of Pilbara iron ore operations will rely on technology advancements and breakthroughs in research and development, which is why BHP and
Following the joint trial, BHP and
BHP Western Australia Iron Ore Asset President
“Replacing diesel isn’t just about changing energy sources, it’s about reimagining how we operate and creating the technologies, infrastructure and supply chains to transform mining operations. These trials will help us understand how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together: the battery technologies, generation and charging infrastructure, power management, as well as the supply chains to potentially deliver this at scale.
“A significant shift like this demands a strong commitment to research and development, coupled with collaboration across the industry. This is going to take time to get right, which is why trials like this one with
“These trials are a critical part of this work as we bring the testing to the reality of the Pilbara. We're excited about what we’ll learn about how best to deliver the breakthroughs required to accelerate this transition.”
“No single company can achieve zero emissions haulage on its own. It takes the whole industry working together. That’s why we’re working with BHP and Caterpillar to develop new solutions that will reduce emissions in mining and help us reach our net zero commitments.
“Through this industry-first collaboration to test Cat 793 XE Early Learner battery-electric haul trucks in Pilbara conditions, we hope to meet our shared goals as quickly and efficiently as we can.”
Caterpillar Inc. Resource Industries Sales Services and Technology Senior Vice President
“By working side by side with our customers, we’re delivering solutions to help them solve their toughest challenges while learning together each step of the way. This collaboration is key to accelerating innovation and shaping the next generation of mining technology, and we’re excited to be on this journey together with our Early Learner customers.”
Ongoing testing and development throughout this trial will enable learning toward future deployment. This will inform the approach for testing a larger number of haul trucks and the potential integration of battery-electric haul truck fleets into each company’s operations.
The collaboration reflects the shared ambitions of BHP,
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251204183951/en/
Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com
M
edia Relations,
M +44 7796 630 637
M +44 7787 597 493
Media Relations,
M +61 433 525 739
Alyesha Anderson
M +61 434 868 118
Rachel Pupazzoni
M +61 438 875 469
M +61 419 103 454
Media Relations,
M +1 514 796 4973
M +1 418 592 7293
Vanessa Damha
M +1 514 715 2152
Media Relations,
US &
M +1 202 394 9480
Investor Relations,
M +44 7584 609 644
M +44 7920 010 978
M +44 7826 942 797
M +44 7825 907 230
Investor Relations,
M +61 439 353 948
M +976 95 091 237
6 St James’s Square
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in
No. 719885
Level 43,
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in
ABN 96 004 458 404
Category: Pilbara
Source:
