Miller Technology has successfully launched its new battery electric low-profile grader for underground mining. Customer response and trials at the bauma 2022 trade show in Munich, Germany from October 24 to 30, 2022 it says were extremely positive for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that fills a market gap.

Miller’s E-Grader was built by retrofitting a HBM-Novas 110-M low-profile grader with Miller’s patented Powered by IONIC Drive system. Low-profile graders are used in underground mining where the height profile of the mine is not tall enough for conventional graders. Historically, these graders have had diesel engines, which emit greenhouse gas emissions and impairs underground air quality.

Graders are even more essential when mines add BEVs to their utility vehicle fleets, such as Miller’s BEV Land Cruisers that launched earlier this year, because BEVs regenerate their batteries on the descent into the mine. The smoother the grade of the descent, the stronger the regen per metre, and so the low-profile grader is an essential tool as mines expand their BEV fleets.

“This is another great day for Miller, for North Bay, for Northern Ontario and for Canada as we continue to roll out more battery electric vehicles for mining,” said Dan Bachand, the CEO of Miller. “We also want to recognise and thank the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for its funding support of the E-Grader.”

“Miller Technology’s battery electric grader is a further example of how Canada is leading the world in green technology, reducing operating costs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and most importantly improving employee health,” said Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming. “We are proud to see them serve the world from North Bay in the riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming.”

The launch of the E-Grader also coincides with the recent announcement in the Federal Government Fall Economic Statement that introduces a refundable tax credit of 30% of the capital cost of investments in a number of clean technology items, including hydrogen or electric heavy-duty equipment used in construction and mining that are zero-emission or can be charged or refuelled remotely.

“A 30% tax credit will assist our customers with their purchases of the higher cost BEVs and help speed up the electrification of mining utility vehicles and Miller will be right there for them with reliable mining BEVs,” said Bachand.

Prior to bauma 2022, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, was with Miller Technology on October 7, 2022 to announce a round of projects that had been awarded funding by the NOHFC grants, including Miller’s E-Grader.

“Ontario is a leader in EVs and Miller is at the leading edge of EV utility vehicles,” said Vic Fedeli. “We’ve said that the North will become an integral part of Ontario’s Driving Prosperity strategy and this is another big step.”

“With our original build Relay, BEV conversion kit and now the E-Grader, the Ionic Drive System that Miller has developed has arrived at the top of the battery electric heavy duty-cycle drive systems. I want to thank our team members for their hard work. All of our staff have helped get us to this point,” said Bachand.

The E-Grader is currently being checked out in Germany by international customers who attended the bauma trade show and will be returning to Canada from January 2023 onwards for North American customer visits in North Bay and Sudbury, with the intent to ramp up production in Spring 2023.