Global mining and metals company Fortescue is driving the technology behind a large, all-electric heavy equipment solution with a 6 MW DC fast charger that can charge this large 1,900 kWh tow truck battery in less than thirty minutes. (!)
Developed jointly by Fortescue and heavy equipment giant Liebherr, the 6 MW (6000 kW) DC fast charger is twice as fast as the 3 MW prototype shown last year during CES, but was only a small part of the $4 billion electrical equipment deal. two companies signed at MINExpo this past week. That money will eventually pay for a total of 475 Liebherr zero-emission machines, with a breakdown of 360 self-contained battery-operated trucks, 55 electric excavators, and 60 battery-operated loaders.
The big news, however, has to be that game-changing 6MW charger.
“Fortescue has developed a stationary fast charging solution to support the autonomous battery-electric truck,” the company said this week. Equipped with robot connection options, the charger can provide up to 6 MW of power and charge the current battery-electric T 264. [a 240 ton rigid haul truck we covered back in July] in 30 minutes.”
That's right, kids. This deal is so big that the news of a fast DC charger being available worldwide is almost brought up as an afterthought.
“We are proud to make the largest deal in the entire 75-year history of the Liebherr Group. Especially since the expansion of our partnership with Fortescue is an important step forward in our shared goal of disrupting the power of mining operations worldwide,” said Dr. Jörg Lukowski, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Liebherr-Mining Equipment SAS. “The technology developed as part of this record-breaking agreement will not only support our customers in their decarbonisation journey but will also help us deliver on our commitment to providing fuel-free transport, loading and sleeping solutions by the end of the decade. In fact, in the years to come, Liebherr and Fortescue Zero will be able to offer many customers in the industry a proven, zero-emission mining system.”
The rollout of these HDEVs is part of Fortescue's Real Zero 2030 target, which aims to eliminate harmful carbon emissions from its Australian steel operations by 2030.
“The world needs Real Zero now – it can't wait,” said Dr. Andrew Forrest, executive chairman, Fortescue. “The green solutions we need are here today, and Fortescue Zero provides them and still frees them from our large mining operations.”
Amen to that.
Electrek's Take
Fortescue and Liebherr totally get it when it comes to decarbonization. The solutions here, have been proven across tens of millions of miles of operation, and the equipment not only works – it works better than diesel.
The time to convert the world's heavy equipment to battery power is now.
SOURCE | PHOTOS: Fortescue, via Liebherr.
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