The world's largest fleets of electric mining trucks

A surprising strategy.

Electrification has historically been associated with compact cars, city buses, and passenger vehicles; few believed this technology could tackle one of the industry's most extreme environments: heavy-duty mining. After all, hauling hundreds of tons around the clock demands constant power, high availability, and virtually zero operational downtime—yet Chinese engineering has just proven that even this sector can move away from diesel.

Mining company Zijin and manufacturer Long King developed a platform that differs significantly from traditional electric vehicles. Instead of remaining tethered to fast chargers, these trucks utilize an automated battery-swapping system, allowing them to return to operations immediately. At the heart of the LK220 lies a massive battery assembly with a capacity of approximately 770 kWh. Rather than recharging the vehicle directly, robots automatically swap the depleted module for a fully charged one in about four minutes.

This strategy virtually eliminates downtime and allows the removed battery to be slow-charged at dedicated stations, thereby extending its service life and reducing thermal stress on the cells. Furthermore, the electrical architecture simplifies the truck's mechanical assembly by eliminating complex transmissions, reducing the number of wear-prone components, and significantly lowering maintenance requirements.

The economic benefits are also noteworthy; operating costs per ton transported drop drastically compared to diesel-powered trucks, particularly in operations utilizing locally generated electricity. Electric motors have fewer moving parts, exhibit lower mechanical failure rates, and offer far more precise control during acceleration and braking, which boosts efficiency and reduces operational risks in extremely demanding environments.

This technology has moved beyond the experimental stage. The Bulhagen mine in China's Shinyan region has launched operations with one of the world's largest fleets of electric mining trucks. As Zijin continuously expands its electrification strategy—leveraging energy from solar and wind farms installed in the local area—a significant portion of the mineral transport chain is shifting to operations that are virtually independent of fossil fuels.