Caterpillar, the world’s largest construction and mining equipment manufacturer, has built its first large battery-electric mining haul truck and demonstrated the prototype to select customers at its Tucson Proving Ground in Arizona, a test site the company is redeveloping as a "mine site of the future" with solar power, wind turbines and other sustainability-focused infrastructure. "This demonstration is an important milestone, and we’re excited that in the near future these trucks will begin working at customer sites around the world," said Denise Johnson, president of Caterpillar’s Resource Industries group.
The prototype is based on Caterpillar’s existing 793 haul truck, long powered by diesel, and was developed together with mining companies through the company’s "Early Learner" program, launched in 2021 to speed up development and real-world testing of electric trucks at customer sites. During the demonstration, the battery-electric 793 completed a 4.3-mile course, reaching a top loaded speed of 37.3 mph and climbing a steep, 1-kilometre, 10% grade section at 7.5 mph.
Caterpillar has not said whether it will put a commercial version into production, or what it might cost compared with the standard diesel 793. According to a 2021 McKinsey report, decarbonising haul trucks like the 793 is one of the most important steps the mining industry can take, with the potential to cut site emissions by up to 25%.