Fleet of 100 5G-Advanced Autonomous Electric Mining Trucks

Hulunbuir, China – A fleet of 100 autonomous electric mining trucks, developed through a collaboration between Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., a power generation and energy company, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., an ICT provider, Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG), a heavy machinery manufacturer, and several research institutes, is now operating continuously around the clock.

A fleet of 100 autonomous electric mining trucks has commenced operation at an open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia, northern China, marking the largest deployment of such vehicles worldwide.

Supported by a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network, the Huaneng Ruichi trucks at the Yimin mine represent a significant step toward making coal mining more intelligent and environmentally friendly.

Operated by China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., the trucks stand out with their industry-leading features: a top operating speed of 50 kilometers per hour, a load capacity of 90 tonnes per vehicle, and the ability to function continuously in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.

Mr. Li Shuxue, Chairman of Huaneng Inner Mongolia East Energy Co., Ltd., said, “This fully domestic, zero-carbon solution empowers mining with AI, enhances safety, and accelerates the industry’s digital transformation. It is a pivotal step toward overcoming reliance on imported heavy equipment and advancing China’s high-quality development in mining.”

Winter conditions previously caused frost buildup on the truck cabin windows, hindering operations. However, thanks to advanced technologies like lidar, millimeter-wave radar, cameras, and AI algorithms, these unmanned trucks can accurately detect their surroundings even in low light, poor visibility, snow, sandstorms, and nighttime conditions, Liu explained.

Mr. Yang Dongsheng, chairman of XCMG Group and XCMG Machinery, said, “This initiative represents a convergence of energy, technological, equipment, and commercial revolutions. By partnering with industry leaders, XCMG has delivered a world-class blueprint for global green, intelligent mining. Starting with autonomous electric trucks, we will expand to unmanned excavators, drilling rigs, and loaders, creating a comprehensive zero-carbon, unmanned mining ecosystem.”

Each truck is powered by a 564-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, and impressively, battery swaps can be completed in under six minutes.

Replacing diesel-powered vehicles with this electric fleet is expected to reduce diesel consumption by 15,000 tonnes and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 48,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to planting 2.6 million fir trees.

China Huaneng plans to expand the autonomous truck fleet at Yimin to between 300 and 500 units and to implement similar projects in other mining regions, including Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

The Yimin coal mine spans 42.36 square kilometers and holds an estimated 1.86 billion tonnes of coal, with an annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes.