XCMG presents two battery-electric prototypes to Fortescue
Earlier, Fortescue announced an investment of over $400 million to order more than one hundred battery-electric vehicles for mining from the Chinese heavy machinery manufacturer XCMG. A year later, a second deal followed for 300 to 400 zero-emission 240-tonne dump trucks from XCMG.
XCMG has now taken a significant step towards fulfilling the first order. During a ceremony at its plant in Xuzhou, China, the company presented two prototypes critical to the deal to a Fortescue delegation: the battery-electric wheel loader XC9260BEWL and the battery-electric wheel dozer XC9260BEWD. XCMG claims these are the largest machines of their kind worldwide.
Lu Chuan, President of XCMG Machinery, stated: “The rollout of these custom-built prototypes marks a new milestone in our collaboration. XCMG will leverage the full R&D–production–supply–sales–service–finance value chain to ensure the successful implementation of Fortescue projects and contribute to global green mining development.”
Gus Pichot, Co-CEO of Fortescue, added: “These prototypes demonstrate real progress in deploying decarbonization technologies and achieving true zero emissions by 2030.” Both machines will now be transported to Fortescue’s iron ore mining operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, where they will undergo practical testing and optimisation.
Over the past two years, Fortescue has signed several contracts for the procurement of battery-electric vehicles. Particularly notable is a megadeal with Liebherr, which includes the delivery of around 360 autonomously operated giant dump trucks, as well as 55 electric excavators and 60 electric bulldozers. Valued at $2.8 billion, this contract is the largest in the history of the German-Swiss company Liebherr.
0 Comments