ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia – Rio Tinto has announced a partnership with China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) to trial battery swap technology for electric mining haul trucks at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia. This two-year demonstration project will deploy eight electric mining haul trucks, each with a payload capacity of 91 tonnes, 13 batteries rated at 800 kWh, and a robot-assisted battery swapping and charging station. The battery swap technology will allow the electric trucks to quickly exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones, significantly reducing charging downtime and extending operational hours.
Project Background and Objectives
Battery swapping technology is already in use in mining operations across China, and Rio Tinto’s collaboration with SPIC will enable the company to demonstrate a complete ecosystem of electric trucks and chargers. This project will involve testing the technology in non-production activities at Oyu Tolgoi, such as tailings dam rehabilitation and topsoil movement. With the assistance of a robotic battery swapping station, the battery replacement process will take only around 7 minutes, while each battery is expected to last up to 8 hours, thereby maximizing equipment usage.
Jonathon McCarthy, Rio Tinto’s Chief Decarbonisation Officer, stated, “By partnering with the State Power Investment Corporation, we will be demonstrating the latest battery electric technology and assessing its potential to help decarbonise our operations quickly and cost-effectively. This project allows us to explore applications of battery swap technology, providing more flexibility and reducing downtime compared to static charging methods.”
Significance of the Project
The project showcases Chinese green transportation technology on an international stage, supporting Rio Tinto’s decarbonisation targets. Han Zhiwei, Chairman of State Power Investment Group Capital Holding Co., Ltd, said, “Through our collaboration with Rio Tinto, we are bringing advanced green transport innovations to the global market, highlighting the strength of Chinese enterprises in green technology innovation. We hope our low-carbon technologies can assist Rio Tinto in achieving its decarbonisation targets and look forward to future collaboration in green energy applications.”
Deirdre Lingenfelder, Chief Executive Officer of Oyu Tolgoi, commented, “We are proud to have the Oyu Tolgoi team play a key role in advancing this innovative technology for Rio Tinto. This project represents an important step in our ongoing decarbonisation journey and aligns closely with Oyu Tolgoi’s commitment to sustainable growth. By expanding our use of underground battery electric equipment and implementing additional emission reduction initiatives, we are driving progress toward a net-zero carbon future.”
Technical experts from Rio Tinto, Oyu Tolgoi, SPIC, and truck manufacturer Tonly have collaborated closely to adapt the equipment design to meet Rio Tinto’s safety standards for electric trucks. If successful, this project could inform further electrification efforts across Rio Tinto’s fleet of approximately 700 mining trucks globally, many of which are currently diesel-powered.
Technology Application and Future Outlook
The electric dump trucks in this project will have a payload capacity of 91 tonnes, and the robotic battery swapping station will facilitate rapid battery changes. The first truck is expected to arrive at Oyu Tolgoi by the end of this year, with the remaining seven trucks and infrastructure for battery swapping and charging to be operational by mid-2025.
This innovative battery swap technology will enable Rio Tinto to use electric trucks more flexibly, with minimal downtime, improving operational efficiency. Rio Tinto is also exploring additional electrification solutions, including pilot programs for ultra-class mining trucks in Pilbara, Australia. The company aims to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050, and this collaboration with SPIC supports that commitment.
