Fortescue Metals Group has announced a new partnership with Canadian manufacturer MacLean to further its decarbonization efforts in mining.
The collaboration will see the delivery of 30 electric graders, known as GR8 EVs, for Fortescue’s mining operations in Western Australia. The fleet will be supplied between 2026 and 2029, marking the latest step in Fortescue’s ongoing push toward electrifying its vehicle fleet.
This deal follows a recent major order from Liebherr, in which Fortescue secured 475 electric vehicles for its mines in Western Australia. Like the agreement with Liebherr, Fortescue is not merely a customer; it will be contributing its own battery-electric drive system, developed by its in-house technology division, Fortescue Zero, to the GR8 EV graders. These vehicles, used for levelling large mining areas, will feature Fortescue’s proprietary electric drive technology.
Kevin MacLean, CEO of MacLean, highlighted the company’s extensive experience in underground mining vehicle electrification. “Our track record to date is 25 vehicle models battery electrified, 100 EV units sold…and half a million operating hours logged. Now we’re turning our sights to surface mining operations,” he said. David Jacques, Vice President of Surface Mining Vehicles at MacLean, added, “Surface mining vehicle electrification represents the dawn of a new era at MacLean, but it’s one with a deep foundation in our past as a manufacturer of fit-for-purpose solutions for the mining industry.”
The GR8 EV graders will utilize battery technology supplied by Freudenberg Battery Power Systems, continuing MacLean’s long-standing relationship with the German company’s subsidiaries, Xalt Energy and Freudenberg Sealing Technologies.
