In northern Chile, straddling the western foothills of the Andes Mountains, a 700-kilometre long major mining transport route connects Codelco’s Chuquicamata copper mine with the port of Mejillones. Recently, XCMG all electric heavy-duty trucks completed trial runs on this route with it says zero malfunctions and errors throughout the entire journey.
This follows a similar trial in April when a 100% electric SANY truck with a 27 t load of copper travelled 680 kilometres in a round trip between Codelco’s Radomiro Tomic copper mine and the port of Angamos as part of another electromobility pilot.
XCMG says its trucks faced the combined challenges of high altitude, long slopes, strong winds and sandstorms, and large temperature differences, but that the electric heavy-duty units showcased their strengths including an independently developed electric drive system and intelligent battery management technology, to allow them to operating stably and demonstrating their environmental adaptability and new energy transportation capabilities. The trial it adds validated the technology and built customer confidence.
XCMG added that it believes that the electrification and intelligentisation of mining equipment is not an option any more, but has become a mandatory requirement. “The success of this trial run is a significant achievement of the continued deepening of the strategic cooperation between XCMG and Chile’s state-owned copper company.”
Codelco has already deployed XCMG excavators, loaders, road rollers, cranes, and other equipment in its mining areas, XCMG says winning trust “with their high efficiency, high reliability, and low emissions.
Both parties have been advancing cooperation focusing on ‘green mines’ and ‘smart mines.’ In February 2025, a delegation from Codelco visited XCMG’s Xuzhou headquarters and met with Chairman Yang Dongsheng. Following this, both parties continued to advance on-site mine surveys and joint technology development and in March 2026, XCMG and Codelco signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding.
XCMG says that from its core “three-electric” technologies (electric drive, electronic control, and power supply) to a full range of new energy equipment and intelligent mine management systems, it has built a complete ecosystem for green mining solutions.
Taking the pure electric heavy-duty truck currently undergoing trial operation as an example, a single vehicle can reduce carbon emissions by nearly 100 t annually, with zero exhaust emissions and low noise, effectively improving the working environment in mining areas. “Promoting the development of mining equipment towards a safer, cleaner, and smarter direction – this is both XCMG’s commitment and its action.”