BHP, one of the world’s largest mining companies, is looking at expanding its trials of electric vehicles into Western Australia after successfully trialling the Voltra at its Olympic Dam mining site in South Australia.
International Mining reports that BHP Chief Transformation Officer, Jonathan Price, announced the expansion on the back of positive results from the operations with the Voltra. The vehicle was used both above- and below-ground and has been running for months at the site.
“The Olympic Dam trial is providing us with valuable data and information to understand how we may continue to electrify different forms of transportation, and material movement in our operations,” he told delegates.
“Early results indicate significantly reduced maintenance time, and very positive operator feedback on the vehicle – not only are they smooth to drive, they’re quiet – and with no diesel exhaust and dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”
ZEV has been constantly refining the vehicle in response to operator feedback and is currently designing the next generation of the Voltra vehicle for wider deployment.