Hydrogen-Powered Mining Breakthrough

On May 13th, a significant breakthrough was achieved in the application of hydrogen energy in the mining scene. The first hydrogen battery off-road wide-body dump truck (referred to as “hydrogen wide-body vehicle”) of EACON officially landed for testing and operation at Baoli Coal Mine in Inner Mongolia. This is the mining industry’s first hydrogen haulage truck, further promoting the demonstrative application of hydrogen energy in the transportation field and providing new ideas for the construction of green mine.

As an important exploration of hydrogen energy in the field of transportation, EACON becomes the first to take the lead in using hydrogen wide-body vehicles for testing and operation in Baoli Coal Mine, Inner Mongolia. This hydrogen-powered wide-body vehicle was jointly developed by Shaanxi Tonly Heavy Industry Co Ltd (referred to as "Tonly Heavy Industry”), Foshan Xianhu Laboratory and Foshan Xianhu Hydrogen Electric Technology Co Ltd. The vehicle is 10.8 metres long, 3.7 metres wide, 4.2 metres high, with a total weight of 100 tonnes and a load capacity of 70 tonnes. The on-site operation test of the hydrogen wide-body vehicle signifies a breakthrough in the key technological difficulties of hydrogen energy in the field of transportation.

Partnership-Driven Innovation 

The developer of China's first hydrogen wide-body vehicle, Chief Engineer Mou Junfa of Tonly Heavy Industry, stated, "The successful landing and operation test of the first hydrogen wide-body vehicle is of great significance to the entire industry. Tonly Heavy Industry and EACON have found the scenario for the practical application of hydrogen energy in mechanical engineering, and will promote the development and maturity of the entire industry from the perspective of terminal application. As a technology-based company, EACON has always focused on the direction and achievements of industry technological progress. Over the past few years, we have maintained good cooperation with Tonly Heavy Industry in new energy technology and autonomous technology application. Based on common value pursuit and complementary advantages, we believe that in the next 1-2 years, we will establish standards and regulations for hydrogen energy in the mining transportation scenario, promoting the wide application of hydrogen energy in the industry."

The landing test of the hydrogen wide-body vehicle provides a new solution for the realisation of the "dual carbon" goal and the construction of "green mine". Mou Junfa emphasised, "Advanced electric drive technology provides a more convenient, flexible, and maneuverable vehicle platform for the development of autonomous technology. However, lithium batteries have three major pain points in the application on mining vehicles: poor low-temperature performance, large battery size occupying too much vehicle capacity, and long charging time leading to short vehicle effective working time. Hydrogen fuel cells can perfectly solve the above-mentioned pain points. Moreover, the abundant wind and solar resources in mine, the geographic conditions of being far away from towns and open ventilation, and the relatively fixed haulage routes of mining vehicles also solve the three major pain points of hydrogen price, hydrogen safety, and hydrogen transportation. Hydrogen battery, advanced electric drive technology, and comprehensive by-wire chassis technology are expected to better serve the evolution and promotion of autonomous technology, enabling the establishment of a new development pattern for green and intelligent mine in China."

Advancing Greener, Smarter Mining

Currently, focused on the transformation, upgrading, and sustainable development of mines, EACON adheres to the mission of "make transportation easier" and continuously refines its technology to form a data closed-loop through operational integration into real scenes. We strive to empower the mining industry with a main line and multiple entry points. As a leading domestic provider of autononomous full-stack technology and solutions, EACON has formed a autonomous mining system with four integrated parts: a dispatch and command platform with supporting dispatch centers, single-vehicle autonomous systems, network communication systems, collaborative operation systems. We have conducted 24/7 routine operation trials in large open-pit mines such as the National Energy Group and TBEA, becoming the first autonomous driving company to enter real operating scenes.

The landing test and operation of the hydrogen wide-body vehicle is another major breakthrough in the technological empowerment of the mining industry by EACON, opening a new page for solving transportation power and creating green mine. Technological iteration is a process from quantitative change to qualitative change. With the continuous accumulation of hydrogen energy and autonomous technology, it is believed that a new round of industrial revolution will sweep through the mining industry.