Back in June 2020, IM exclusively reported on BELAZ’s plans for an all battery electric 90 t class haul truck, the 7558E, the first unit of which was to be ready by the end of the year. With the pandemic the project has slowed somewhat but the prototype was duly built, using 15 lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) battery modules (total 765 kWh) manufactured in South Korea by Enertech International.

According to recent reports in Belarussian automotive publication, Autobusiness, the power reserve on a single charge will be at least two hours with a full load of 90 t and uphill slope of no more than 10%. After several haulage cycles, it will be necessary to recharge within 20-25 minutes from a special charging station. The same report adds that work on the commercial version of the electric dump truck, including the entire test cycle, should be completed in Q4 2022 and in 2023, it is planned to start serial production of the model. The estimated cost of the 7558E is quoted at $1.62 million. At the same time, the estimated savings from the operation of a mining electric dump truck, taking into account the cost of energy and energy carriers, reducing the cost of its maintenance, delivery and storage of diesel fuel, will be about $68,500 per year.