Epiroc has evolved from an OEM selling “wheels and steel” to offering a comprehensive suite of solutions that drive sustainability for its mining customers and enable them to achieve their ESG and decarbonisation goals.
To meet the demands of a dynamic and rapidly transitioning mining industry, Epiroc has increased its product development capacity dramatically so that miners can take the necessary steps towards more sustainable and optimised operations. Alisa Bennett, Underground Business Manager at Epiroc Australia, told Green Review that at the early stages of its battery electric vehicle (BEV) development,
Epiroc identified the need for a ‘step change’ approach. This would allow its customers to transition away from fossil fuel sources with minimal disruption to their operations, while still achieving the desired outcomes of reduced emissions and increased productivity.
Bennett said: “The design and development of next generation diesel-electric and hybrid fleets has become a key focus for Epiroc, particularly in the large-sized segment fleet which is used in Australia.
“We are committed to having these products available in a timeframe which will allow our customers to meet their ESG and decarbonisation targets. “By building up our portfolio of solutions with world-class products, we are confident that we can take our customers to the next level by utilising the safest and most robust battery technology available on the market today.”
The Epiroc Roadmap underscores the company’s step change approach – featuring solutions comprising diesel, e-drive, hybrid, BEV and trolley – enabling miners to access the equipment they need at every stage of their transition.
Automation is an integral element of Epiroc’s offering, and to which it has an OEM-agnostic approach, meaning its automation solutions work on all types of machines including those not produced by Epiroc.
This ensures Epiroc’s solutions do not limit or obstruct the customer in their choice of equipment, both now and in the future, allow them to customise the most efficient and productive outcome for their business. Bennett explained that as some mines will never be suited to a full BEV fleet, Epiroc aimed to provide best – in- class solutions in every category, as well as pathways to convert existing diesel machinery to alternative power sources.Notably, all of Epiroc’s next generation equipment is designed with a modular concept that considers total cost of ownership and ease of maintenance at every stage of design, ensuring maximum efficiency and cost viability for customers when they have Epiroc fleets in their operations.
In practice, a modular equipment scenario comprises a swappable fuel source, where operators have the flexibility to change out a battery and put in a diesel gen set. Along with investment in research and development, close collaboration with clients has also had a substantial impact on the development of Epiroc’s technology solutions.
Bennett pointed to the significant number of acquisitions Epiroc had made in recent years to ensure its focus remained on providing best-in-class products and services that ensured safety was paramount.
These acquisitions include Australian company JTMEC and Meglab in Canada, both of which bring expertise in battery electrification and the reevaluation of electrical infrastructure to ensure proper electrical distribution and grid stability.
By broadening the scope of its offering, Epiroc aims to help underground miners overcome the challenges around decarbonisation, which include addressing infrastructure, connectivity, increased cost of operation, power generation, and equipment suitability. In particular, the development of reliable power generation is integral to supporting next generation technologies, and industry’s ability to do so dictates the pace of their adoption.
Epiroc’s acquired companies are also playing a key role in this part of the transition, offering consultancy, mine auditing, and application studies to ensure the planning process is in place for BEV machinery to be successfully implemented in mining operations.
Moreover, Epiroc continually works with multiple major mining companies and contractors on product and technology development to ensure the solutions it brings to market are fit for purpose and specifically designed for use in Australian mines.
Ongoing collaborations include mobile fleet development, charging solutions, battery technology, infrastructure design and development, and automation. Perhaps the most critical area where this collaboration is required is in risk assessments related to bringing new technology underground – the experience Epiroc has gained over the years can now easily be applied to new customers getting ready for their battery-electrification journey.
A major differentiating factor that sets Epiroc’s BEVs apart from other OEMs is the modular build-up for all Epiroc batteries, regardless of its application, which provides high parts commonality and unbeatable energy capacity.
Another key feature of Epiroc’s BEVs is the company’s adoption of the CCS 2.0 agnostic charging interface, which was developed by the automotive industry and has also been adopted by other mining OEMs.
Bennett added: “As we take on board valuable feedback from our customers currently using the equipment, our charging solutions are broadening around the best and most effective ways of charging equipment with maximum safety and minimum amount of downtime in the mining cycle.”
Since the release of Epiroc’s first BEVs, developments have included the use of different chemistry in batteries allowing for much higher storage capacity, faster charging, a built-in thermal management system to control cell temperature, more efficient electrical motors, and optimising regenerative braking capacity.
Advances in connected products, batteries and chargers have also enabled Epiroc to generate a more optimised mining operation.
