SUPPLIERS SPRINT TO MEET RISING BEV
BEVS
DEMAND
CMJ looks at new and upcoming offerings from OEMs By Alisha Hiyate
D
espite the disruptions of the pandemic, battery equipment manufacturers report that demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is only increasing – a trend that holds true globally and among both large and smaller miners. While during the initial phase of the pandemic, miners focused their attention on operational issues and worker safety, planning for the ongoing shift away from diesel-powered vehicles continued, says Stuart Lister, vice-president, marketing and communications with Ontario-based MacLean Engineering. “All the work going on behind the scenes by mining companies and consulting engineers. . . continued unabated,” Lister says. “What did change last year was that almost every major mining company issued long-term carbon reduction goals, which zero emissions fleets will be a big part of, so this sets the stage for a ramp up of adoption around the mining world.” With demand set to intensify, here’s a look at some of the BEV equipment original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) rolled out in 2020 and early this year, and what they’re working on for 2021 and beyond.
Aramine
Following on Aramine’s electric miniloader launched 2018 and diesel-electric hybrid minidriller launched 2019, in 2020, the company launched its QRS – quick battery replacement system – for use with the miniLoader L140B. The system improves productivity by speeding up batery replacement to just a few minutes. The QRS system can be adapted with a kit on a previously sold miniLoader L140B with fixed frame. To go with the QRS, Aramine has created a stationary changing bench with a crane in order to assist and facilitate the battery replacement. The crane helps to remove and quickly and easily replace the battery pack, while the dock allows up to three packs to be charged at the same time. This system is optional because some mines are already equipped APRIL 2021
Aramine miniLoader L140B with its QRS battery replacement system. CREDIT: ARAMINE
with a mobile crane. A mobile station is also being tested for more flexibility. Aramine is also working on a new battery powered mining loader, the L350B, with an incomparable “size to capacity” ratio, to carry even more in smaller gallery sections (tramming capacity of 3.5 tonnes for a width of 1.5 metres compared to the miniLoader’s 1.4 tonnes for a width of 1.1 metres). Aramine, based in France, plans to launch the new machine at MinExpo 2021 this year. The company is also working on a fully electric, battery powered miniDriller as a complement to the miniLoader L140B. The machine will be Aramine’s first battery-powered drill rig and is scheduled for release at the end of 2021. CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL |
27
