Chinese mining company Zijin Mining is expanding the electrification of its mining vehicle fleet, deploying battery-electric haul trucks across multiple operations while developing its own heavy-duty electric mining vehicles.
The company said it established an in-house production and assembly line after determining that commercially available vehicles did not fully meet its operational requirements.
In-House Electric Mining Trucks
By the end of 2025, Zijin had produced its first battery-electric mining dump truck, the LK220E.
The company now operates nearly 300 battery-electric dump trucks weighing up to 140 tonnes, depending on configuration. The vehicles are equipped with swappable battery packs with a capacity of 776 kWh.
The first LK220E trucks were delivered to the Julong copper mine in Tibet in May, where they operate at an altitude of approximately 5,300 metres.
According to Zijin, the trucks have achieved vehicle availability exceeding 90% while reducing energy consumption by more than 17% compared with comparable mining vehicles.
The company is also developing additional battery-electric models, including the larger LK350E dump truck and the autonomous LK110EI electric mining truck. A supply agreement has already been signed for the LK350E at the Julong mine, although the number of vehicles has not been disclosed.
Battery Swapping and Renewable Energy
Zijin is also expanding vehicle electrification at its Xinjiang Zijin zinc mine, where diesel-powered equipment is gradually being replaced by battery-electric vehicles.
The company said more than 290 electric mining trucks from several manufacturers, including Lingong Heavy Machinery, are currently operating at the site, handling more than 80% of transport activities.
The mine also operates a “Zero Carbon Transport Loop” powered by electricity generated from nearby wind and solar energy facilities supported by battery energy storage systems.
An automated battery-swapping system performs more than 180 battery exchanges each day using artificial intelligence, with each battery replacement taking approximately four minutes. The system is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -40°C to 40°C.
Digital Fleet Management
Zijin has also introduced a digital fleet management platform that monitors battery performance and vehicle safety data in real time.
According to the company, the system has reduced speeding violations by 75% and provides operational data to improve fleet efficiency.
The mining company said experience gained from the Xinjiang operation will be applied to additional open-pit mining projects as it continues expanding fleet electrification.
The deployment reflects broader industry efforts to reduce emissions from mining operations, with manufacturers and mining companies increasingly introducing battery-electric heavy equipment for large-scale mining applications.
