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Komatsu targets to be first in market with hydrogen-powered mining vehicles In a first for the industry, Komatsu, Japan's top construction equipment manufacturer, aims to establish hydrogen power as a diesel replacement for heavy-duty mining dump trucks, according to Nikkei.
A Komatsu 980E dump truck: The Japanese manufacturer aims to add hydrogen-powered mining trucks to its lineup, which already includes electrics.
20 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW April 2021
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he company plans to begin developing hydrogen trucks in 2021, to have them ready for use by 2030. This drive to add hydrogen power to mining coincides with Komatsu customers' efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible. Overhead power lines power few mining trucks, but the majority are diesel-powered. The use of hydrogen as a fuel has the advantage of allowing zero-emission trucks to drive on roads where power lines are not available. Mining trucks, which can weigh up to 600 tonnes when fully loaded, dwarf buses. They present a different degree of technological challenges in terms of hydrogen power than regular fuel cell vehicles. Another stumbling block is the cost. Komatsu intends to buy fuel cells from outside vendors for its hydrogen-powered trucks. The price of fuel cell stacks for electricity generation is high. However, if used in a broader range of applications, mass manufacturing is likely to lower their costs. Komatsu's mining equipment sales account for approximately 40% of the company's total revenue. Sany, a Chinese competitor to Caterpillar, has taken
