At MINExpo 2024, Liebherr showcased many new developments and innovations including its latest generation 70 t dozer, the PR 776 G8; the R 9400 E 350 t electric excavator; and its first autonomous battery-electric T 264 haul truck. It also highlighted its expanded technology portfolio, IoMine and the LRT 1100-2.1 rough-terrain crane. However, the stand also featured Liebherr’s Innovation Lab which outlined a range of pioneering concepts for the future of mining from a number of Liebherr’s product segments. One of these is a next generation dynamic charging and power transfer solution, Liebherr Power Rail.
Liebherr Power Rail features a lightweight, simple electric rail infrastructure footprint combined with an interoperable and minimally invasive side-arm type current collector. The Liebherr Power Rail builds on the proven success of the Liebherr Trolley Bar, which has been deployed at VA Erzberg iron ore mine in Austria.
It says Liebherr Power Rail offers a truck class agnostic solution designed to boost productivity and encourage the rapid expansion of zero emissions fleets. The system’s quick installation it says reduces costs compared to other dynamic charging technologies on the market and ensures maximum utilisation. Liebherr says it offers up to 1.8x faster speeds on a 10% grade (speeds of 55 km/h or 34 mph) and relocation is relatively simple. It is also less intrusive on haul roads with switchback capability (two lanes). It is additionally designed for easy maintenance.
Dynamic power transfer is an effective first step towards zero emissions mine sites and beyond traditional overhead trolley assist, other dynamic offerings that also use a side-arm type of connector/current collector and electrified rail are also available including the recently announced Cat® Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET) system from Caterpillar and the existing BluVeinXL solution from BluVein, the joint venture between Australia-based mining innovator Olitek and Sweden-based electric highways developer Evias. BluVein refers to its connector as the BluVein Hammer™. Caterpillar’s DET is to be trialled on both diesel-electric and battery-electric trucks at BHP operations including Jimblebar and Escondida.
Liebherr continues to offer a conventional pantograph trolley solution across its entire truck product range including the new T 264 (240 t) battery-electric truck as well as the T 264, T 274 (305 t) and T 284 (up to 375 t) diesel engine models. Liebherr trolley projects have included VA Erzberg ( T 236), FQM Cobre Panama (T 284), and FQM Sentinel. Liebherr is also in the process of supplying four T 284 trucks and the trolley infrastructure for a pilot project at a large copper mine in Chile which is expected to begin operation in 2025.