China’s Largest Pure Electric Mining Truck Enters Production

China’s largest pure electric mining truck officially rolled off the assembly line last week. The ZL230E, formerly known as the LK350E, is a 350-ton gross-weight electric haul truck developed by Zijin Longking for continuous open-pit mining operations.

With a 230-ton payload capacity and a 125-cubic-meter cargo box, the massive vehicle combines high-capacity hauling with a zero-emission design built for some of the most demanding mining environments.

Through a partnership with Australian autonomous mining developer EACON, the ZL230E combines heavy-duty electric hardware with autonomous intelligence. The vehicle is designed to improve transportation efficiency, reduce operating costs and support greener mining through low energy consumption, high reliability and easier maintenance.

“This new vehicle is a powerful tool tailor-made for high-intensity continuous operations in ultra-large open-pit mines,” said Huang Wei, president of Zijin Longking.

Large open-pit mining operations are among the most carbon-intensive industrial activities, largely because massive haul trucks consume enormous quantities of diesel. Battery-electric trucks could significantly change that equation.

Under its high-rigidity frame, the ZL230E uses a multi-axle, centrally distributed independent-drive architecture powered by dual 800 kW motors. The powertrain adjusts energy output in real time and is designed to maintain performance while climbing steep mine roads.

The truck reportedly carries a massive 1,400 kWh battery pack. Its long-life, superchargeable battery system can reach 90% charge in just 25 minutes, reducing downtime and improving operating efficiency.

Built for high-intensity mining, the ZL230E features a patented high-rigidity frame, dual-control chassis, intelligent energy management, and redundant braking and steering systems. EACON’s cloud-based dispatch, perception and decision-making technology enables fully driverless operation.

The vehicle is designed as a zero-emission haulage machine for China’s harsh open-pit mining environments, with integrated technology providing safety protection and stable operation.

Zijin Mining has rapidly expanded its electric mining fleet, growing from 13 units in 2020 to 1,719 in 2025. The company is targeting a full transition from diesel to electric within three years.

Zijin Longking previously delivered 15 pure electric 150-ton mining trucks to the Julong Copper Mine. Those trucks achieved more than 90% uptime, daily hauling exceeding 2,000 tons and a 17% reduction in energy consumption.

The company also plans to combine its electric mining fleet with wind, solar and energy storage to create integrated, low-cost green energy systems for mining operations.

The ZL230E rollout highlights the growing push toward battery-electric and autonomous heavy equipment. BHP and Rio Tinto are working with Caterpillar on battery-electric haul trucks in Western Australia, while Rio Tinto is testing battery-swapping electric haul trucks at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia.

As mining companies pursue lower emissions and operating costs, enormous battery-electric haul trucks are becoming an increasingly important part of the industry’s transition away from diesel.