The 1.4MWh prototype power system – which can fast-charge in 30 minutes and regenerate power as it drives downhill - is a bespoke design that will be integrated into a 240-tonne mining haul truck.
The battery is part of Fortescue’s $6.2bn decarbonisation strategy to help eliminate fossil fuels from its terrestrial iron ore operations, which includes replacing its existing diesel-fuelled fleet with battery electric and green hydrogen powered haul trucks.
A team of 50 engineers and technicians are responsible for developing the power system, which weighs 15 tonnes, measures 3.6m long, 1.6m wide and 2.4m high, and is made up of eight sub-packs, each with 36 modules, all individually cooled and each with its own battery management system.
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In a statement, Fortescue Future Industries CEO Mark Hutchinson said, “WAE and Fortescue are working together to seek to decarbonise faster and more effectively than any other major industrial company in the world.”
“The battery system, designed for our zero-emission battery electric mining haul trucks, is an important part of our strategy to reach real zero terrestrial emissions [Scope 1 and 2] across our iron operations by 2030”
The battery has now arrived at Fortescue’s workshop in Perth, Western Australia, where it will be assembled and installed, before its transported to the Pilbara for testing on site in 2023.
WAE Technologies CEO Craig Wilson said, “This system is the first of many technologies that can help enable Fortescue to realise its industry leading 2030 net-zero target. Powered solely by renewable energy, it will help prevent enormous amounts of fossil fuel from being used in the mining industry, with the goal to not compromise the vehicle’s load capacity”
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