Epiroc has announced a new battery-electric loader, the Scooptram ST10 G, targeting the market for mines with smaller drift sizes.

Built on technology from the field, the underground loader is now added to Epiroc’s electrification portfolio, featuring a payload capacity of 10 t and up to four hours of drive time on a single battery charge.

Mary Zhu, Global Product Manager Scooptram, said: “[The] Scooptram ST10 G is a great choice for forward-thinking mines aiming to go electric in drift sizes down to 3.5 x 3.5 m – with maintained control of their investment costs. Based on the reliable Scooptram ST1030 and paired with our proven electric drive train and battery system, the technology used in this 10-t loader already has thousands of hours from customer sites.”

With a nominal battery capacity of 270 kWh, the Scooptram ST10 G can operate up to four hours without stopping. The battery can be swapped, if needed, or benefit from on-board opportunity charging through a standardised CCS charging interface. The battery also features active and passive safety systems to meet the highest safety standards.

Mattias Petterson, Global Portfolio Manager Loaders, said: “Working with open standards and OEM-agnostic solutions is an essential part of our electrification offering that makes the transition towards electrification easier for our customers. The electric infrastructure and chargers can support not only our own machines – but also other equipment in the mine, which is crucial to help accelerate the transformation towards more sustainable mining operations.”

Epiroc also offers a battery retrofit option for its Scooptram ST1030, with several operations having converted diesel-powered machines to battery-electric drive during mid-life rebuild processes.

Compared with a traditional diesel-powered underground loader, one single battery-electric Scooptram ST10 G can lower CO2 emissions with up to 262,000 kg/y, according to Epiroc. At the same time, toxic gases, heat and noise are significantly reduced for operators working in the mine. Adding to that, the overall efficiency of the powerful electric drivetrain reduces maintenance cost and improves productivity.

The Scooptram ST10 G also improves ergonomics and overview by introducing a large 10-in touch display inside the FOPS/ROPS approved cabin. This gives operators easy access to battery status from the on-board battery management system, as well as other machine data, Epiroc says.