Caterpillar is set to add to its electric drive haul truck line, with two new ultra-class models being readied for launch.

Cat already has the 794 AC (pictured) and 795F AC in electric drive, but the 796 AC and 798 AC haul trucks will soon be added to the platform, Caterpillar Senior Product Specialist Antonio Varela confirmed on a visit to the company’s Decatur truck manufacturing facility in Illinois on Tuesday.

More details are expected later this week, but Varela confirmed the truck chassis will be a larger version of the 794 AC (previously the MT5300) chassis, which has been proven in the field at many mines.

As the brand names indicate, the new machines will have a higher payload capacity than the 291 t 794 AC and the 327 t 795F AC.

This development shows how the company is continuing to invest in both electric and mechanical drive options on even the largest of its haul trucks – a key differentiator for the company in the OEM space. It also indicates there is significant demand for electric drive at the top end of the haulage market.

Cat’s ultra-class electric drive truck platform was established with the addition of the Unit Rig™ product line. This line came with the acquistion of Bucyrus back in 2011.