If you believe bigger is better, you’re in luck as Anglo American has unveiled the world’s largest hydrogen-powered mine haul truck. Measuring three stories tall and weighing 200 tons empty, the prototype is equipped with a truly massive hydrogen fuel cell and lithium-ion battery powertrain designed and built by First Mode.
The companies didn’t reveal much about the
powertrain, but said it features a 1.2 MWh battery pack, eight fuel cells, and
a total output of 2,682 hp. The nuGen truck also boasts
multiple electric motors, regenerative braking, and the ability to carry up to
290 tons of ore.
The vehicle took less than three years to
create and is based on a diesel-powered model, which would typically consume 900,000 liters of fuel every year. However, thanks to its new
eco-friendly powertrain, it will be keeping “700 cars’ worth of carbon dioxide
emissions out of the atmosphere.”
Anglo American Chief Executive Duncan Wanblad
said, “Over the next several years, we envisage converting or replacing our
current fleet of diesel-powered trucks with this zero-emission haulage system,
fueled with green hydrogen. If this pilot is successful, we could remove up to
80% of diesel emissions at our open pit mines by rolling this technology across
our global fleet.” While the vehicle is a prototype, the company already has
plans to retrofit 40 diesel-powered trucks to hydrogen at their Mogalakwena
site as part of their nuGen project. Afterwards, Anglo American plans to roll
out hydrogen power to their global fleet of around 400 trucks.
