Beginning in 2023, the Swedish mining company Boliden will use battery-electric trucks for heavy underground transport, making it one of the pioneers in the globe. The electric vehicles can offer a number of significant benefits in mining areas, including no exhaust emissions, a safer workplace, and quieter working conditions.
The mining sector is currently undergoing a period of fast transition as many businesses switch to more environmentally friendly production techniques to offer metals with a smaller carbon footprint. Similar to many other mines, the majority of the carbon dioxide emissions from Boliden’s mines are caused by the exhaust gases from diesel cars. Boliden has made a commitment to cut its CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030*, and electrification of mobility will be essential to achieving this objective.
Boliden’s Kankberg mine, located outside of Skellefte in northern Sweden, will now deploy two large, electric Volvo trucks according to a new collaboration agreement between the two parties. The CO2 emissions from the mine might be cut by more than 25% if all of the trucks there were electric.
The first truck to serve the Kankberg mine, a Volvo FH Electric, will be placed into service in 2023 and used to haul rock bolts and other equipment down into the mine. Another Volvo FH Electric will be later put into action and utilised for underground transportation of rock and ore based on the lessons learned from the first truck.
With six electric truck models currently in serial production, Volvo vehicles has the industry’s broadest selection of electric vehicles and dominates the heavy electric truck market in both Europe and the United States. The company’s electric vehicles can handle a variety of transport requirements, from regional transit and construction traffic to urban distribution and waste removal. Volvo wants to sell 50% electric new trucks by the year 2030.
