Rio drives electric fleet trial at Oyu Tolgoi

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) Qiyuan have launched a trial of battery swap electric haul truck technology at the copper mine in Mongolia. 

The trial is Rio Tinto’s first use of battery swap electric haul trucks in surface mining operations, a major step towards developing the cost-effective technology and operational learnings required to reduce emissions from mining haulage fleets — one of the largest contributors to the company’s Scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint. 

Battery swapping technology allows the battery of an electric mining truck to be replaced at a battery swap station in less than seven minutes, without the need to charge the vehicle at a fixed charging facility. This minimises downtime and improves equipment efficiency. 

Over the last year Rio Tinto and SPIC Qiyuan have delivered and installed a fleet of eight 91t Tonly trucks, together with 13 batteries (each 800 kWh), a battery swapping station, static charger and supporting infrastructure. 

The trucks will now be used at Oyu Tolgoi for tailings dam construction and topsoil transportation tasks, providing Rio Tinto with hands on experience operating and maintaining a complete battery electric truck and swap charging system. 

Rio Tinto global equipment and diesel transition general manager Ben Woffenden says the rapid deployment and fast-tracked operational learnings have highlighted the importance of partnerships in advancing low-emission haulage alternatives.  

“The launch of this trial with SPIC Qiyuan is an important milestone, harnessing China’s widely used and leading battery swap technology in a partnership that supports Rio Tinto’s drive to accelerate low-carbon innovation,” he said. 

The equipment will be tested through to the end of 2026 and will help Rio Tinto identify opportunities for wider adoption of this low emission technology across the company. Rio Tinto’s global fleet of 700 haul trucks includes about 100 small or medium class vehicles, offering the potential to adopt current-generation battery swap technology. 

Qiyuan Green Power general manager Mr. Guo Peng says the company is pleased to launch the milestone battery-swap truck trial.  

“SPIC Qiyuan is committed to advancing green energy technology innovation, and this partnership showcases the significant potential of our proven battery-swap solutions in helping global mining customers reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency,” he said. 

“We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Rio Tinto to jointly explore broader prospects for the mining industry’s low-carbon transition.”