Stockholm, Sweden - Epiroc AB., a mining equipment company, has introduced a new generation of charging solutions designed to address the demanding conditions of underground mining and heavy-duty electric vehicle operations. Built to deliver rugged reliability, OEM-agnostic compatibility, and dynamic power distribution, the new system is aimed at helping mines charge battery-electric fleets safely and efficiently in harsh working environments.
Mr. Trent Sears, Global Product Manager of EV Infrastructure at Epiroc, said, “Our new charging solution is the result of years of experience from the field, delivering reliable power where it’s needed and giving customers the operational flexibility to get the most from their electrified vehicles, regardless of the manufacturer.”
Designed for tough underground applications, the chargers feature an IP65-rated build that protects against dust, humidity, and continuous heavy-duty use. The system also allows remote charge posts to be installed as far as 300 meters from the central cabinet, giving mines greater flexibility to adopt decentralized charging layouts. This helps reduce unnecessary tramming, limit charging queues, and keep charging points closer to active work areas. Depending on site requirements, the charge posts can be installed as either pedestal-mounted or wall-mounted units.
To improve productivity, the charging system supports dynamic power sharing across up to eight charge posts connected to a single cabinet. This enables available power to be distributed in real time based on operational demand, helping mines adapt to shifting fleet patterns and maintain higher equipment utilization during each shift.
Additional features include telematics support for monitoring charging sessions and plug-and-play power electronics that make installation, servicing, and configuration easier. Together, these features provide a single charging solution for mixed battery-electric fleets operating across different OEM platforms.
Epiroc said improved charging infrastructure will also help the mining industry reduce dependence on fossil fuels while lowering exposure to fuel supply disruptions and price volatility.