> unless someone invents electric mining trucks

Mine trucks seem to be among the easier kinds of vehicles to convert to fully electric drive, since they already use a power transmission system where the engine drives a generator which in turn drives electric motors that drive the wheels, like the Lohner–Porsche of the early 1900s[1]. This can lead to misunderstandings like of the phrase "The Cat® 794 AC electric drive truck"[2] -- where the "electric drive" means the transmission, AIUI.

But since the electric drivetrain is already there, "all you need to do" is swap the engine and generator out for a battery. May 29, 2023: Australia’s largest miner, BHP, is about to test run heavy-haul trucks with electric motors charged by renewable power"[3]. (Seems to be a Caterpillar.)

A company called Anglo American seems to be doing the same. Feb 13, 2020: "This Mining Truck Will Be the World's Largest Electric Vehicle"[4], and 6th May 2022: "Anglo American has launched its nuGen™ hydrogen-battery hybrid 290 t class mining truck at the Mogalakwena open pit platinum mine" (in South Africa)[5]

Komatsu also talks about their "electric drive tech"[6], but that's also serial-hybrid IIUC. But their distributor in Switzerland,[7], apparently converts them to battery power: "Kuhn Schweiz AG ... Batterien der Lithium Storage GmbH..."[8].

Liebherr also use the diesel-electric drive concept[9]. But they're also being converted by Australian iron ore firm Fortescue Metals (June 16, 2022)[10]. Jan 13 2023: "WAE Technologies, which was acquired by Fortescue in March 2022, completed and delivered the battery system to Fortescue’s workshop in Perth"[11]. January 16, 2023: "Fortescue has taken delivery of a 1.4-MWh prototype battery that's heading for a 240-tonne electric mining haul truck developed in partnership with Liebherr"[12]. The first trucks were apparently delivered in the week of 21st October 2023, to be converted to "Fortescue’s proprietary-owned battery electric and battery electric-fuel cell electric power systems". Seems they're buying a fleet of a whopping 120 units[13]!

Just over a month ago, 2024-01-24: Apparently threre is a "collaboration between Hitachi Construction Machinery and ABB’s Traction division to create a fully electric dump truck for heavy duty mining operations"[14].

For underground use, where the emissions from a diesel-electric system are as bad as those of a mechanical drive combustion-engined one, Sandvik of Sweden already manufactures two models[15]. And Epiroc -- until recently, Atlas Copco, also (at least originally?) Swedish -- one truck and a slew of drills and loaders[16].

So, yeah... The electric mining truck seems to be pretty well invented already.

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohner%E2%80%93Porsche

[2] https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/off-highway...

[3] https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/monster-movers-bhp...

[4] https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a...

[5] https://im-mining.com/2022/05/06/nugen-mining-truck-a-smart-...

[6] https://www.komatsu.com/en/products/trucks/electric-drive-mi...

[7] https://www.kuhn-gruppe.ch/en/building-machines/products/kom...

[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qlwplwfvr8

[9] https://www.liebherr.com/en/int/products/mining-equipment/mi...

[10] https://www.mining-technology.com/news/fortescue-liebherr-tr...

[11] https://electrek.co/2023/01/13/this-240t-electric-mining-hau...

[12] https://newatlas.com/transport/fortescue-williams-prototype-...

[13] https://im-mining.com/2023/10/21/first-of-liebherr-t-264-min...

[14] https://new.abb.com/news/detail/111869/hitachi-construction-...

[15] https://www.rocktechnology.sandvik/en/products/equipment/tru...

[16] https://www.epiroc.com/en-uk/innovation-and-technology/zero-...