Electrical Energy Conversions Australia (EPCA), Sigma Powertrain and Dayton-Phoenix Group are getting ready for an formidable undertaking to transform a Caterpillar 793C mechanical drive truck right into a 100% battery-electric haul truck following receipt of the end-of-life truck from Northern Star Assets’ KCGM Operations in Western Australia.
Northern Star first talked about this undertaking in a LinkedIn publish this week, saying the truck donation would assist help the development of battery-electric mining expertise in Australia. The publish was accompanied by a photograph displaying EPCA Founder and Chief Engineer, Clayton Franklin, in entrance of mentioned truck.
EPCA specialises in retrofitting heavy diesel mining gear for electrical operation, having beforehand carried out the method on a Cat 777 haul truck. It additionally lately introduced that had entered into an settlement to impress a Caterpillar 988 wheel loader, which EMJC will function beneath a long-term operational deployment at a big mining operation in Western Australia.
EPCA advised IM concerning the Cat 793 undertaking: “EPCA has a undertaking plan for the Cat 793 electrification. Advances in battery, drivetrain and energy electronics expertise now make it commercially viable to retrofit these vans utilizing confirmed, commercially out there parts. We’re assured we will obtain acceptable runtime and charging efficiency.”
Key expertise companions on the undertaking embody Sigma Powertrain, supplying the TERRAMAX gearbox, and Dayton Phoenix, supplying the drive motors and inverters.
There’s robust curiosity from a number of Western Australian stakeholders in supporting the undertaking, in accordance with EPCA. “The Cat 793 stays one of the broadly deployed haul vans throughout the state’s mining sector, offering a big market alternative.” EPCA’s present goal is to finish the electrification program by the top of 2027 and reveal the machine throughout a number of working mine websites.
