China’s XCMG is advancing its hydrogen plans in mining trucks – on April 24, 2024, coal mining giant CHN Energy, XCMG and THIKO New Energy held a signing ceremony for “the world’s first” 240 ton class hydrogen mining truck in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia.
According to the agreement, the three parties have formed a consortium which will rely on the broad mining application scenarios of CHN Energy, and relying on the technology of XCMG in the field of mining trucks, and the advantages of THIKO New Energy in the development of high-powered hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen resource integration.
The aim is to deliver the jointly developed truck in the fourth quarter of 2024 for deployment at the huge Baorixile coal mine of CHN Energy. The truck will be a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) equipped with a battery pack as well as the fuel cell power.
The statement said: “Among the many application scenarios of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the mining industry is extremely optimistic about their use, and hydrogen mining trucks are also quietly being developed. Mining enterprises are an important subject of global mining governance, and the carbon reduction of mining enterprises will become an important indicator of global mining governance and an important indicator of the sustainable development of these enterprises.”
Baorixile coal mine has a production capacity of 35 Mt/y, making it one of the largest open-pit coal mines in China. At present, 80 kW, 110 kW and 130 kW fuel cell designs have been developed and 180 kW, 220 kW and 300 kW hydrogen fuel cell systems are being developed for high-power applications such as mines. THIKO New Energy states: “The products have obvious advantages in key technical indicators such as rated power, power density, life, and cold start temperature. With the acceleration of the localisation and production of fuel cell core materials and the expansion of the scale of fuel cell application, the price of fuel cell systems continues to decline, so the price of hydrogen-powered fuel trucks will also come down.”
THIKO New Energy also has plans to construct new green hydrogen generation in the Hulunbuir region as part of a closed-loop business model. “The development and application of a 240 ton of hydrogen mining truck marks a key step in the development strategy of high power hydrogen fuel cell systems…hydrogen energy is ushering in unprecedented strategic development opportunities…the commercial era of hydrogen mining trucks will also be getting closer and closer.”
Signing ceremony between XCMG, CHN Energy and THIKO New Energy
Separately, XCMG has already unveil a new smaller class hydrogen fuel cell dump truck model, the EHSL552F, equipped with a 120 kW hydrogen fuel cell and high-power battery system. It says this launch marks a significant step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 99.3 kg on a daily basis for large-scale transportation projects such as mining operations.
To meet the demand for long-distance operational capabilities, XCMG’s latest hydrogen-powered vehicle it says integrates advanced technology with robust performance features. The EHSL552F model includes a fast 6-speed gearbox and boasts substantial chassis clearance, enabling it to easily navigate steep slopes.
The vehicle’s design incorporates computer-aided topology optimisation, along with new materials and processes that reduce the vehicle weight by 200 kg without compromising structural strength or reliability. Additionally, the EHSL552F is designed for reduced maintenance costs within its lifespan of over 1.5 million kilometres.
Since 2021, XCMG has been researching and manufacturing hydrogen energy equipment, culminating in the creation of the Shanghai Hydrogen Energy Technology Research Institute in April 2022. The company has unveiled 16 different hydrogen energy equipment models, covering various sectors, including mining trucks. June 2023 saw the global debut of the XC968-FCEV, a small hydrogen-powered electric loader developed in collaboration with a coal mining customer in China, marking its official operation.