Newmont Receives First Battery-Electric Large Mining Truck from CAT

On October 29, 2024, Newmont Corporation announced it had achieved a significant milestone by commissioning its first battery-electric large mining truck, Caterpillar’s Early Learner Cat 793 XE, at the Cripple Creek and Victor (CC&V) mine in Teller County, Colorado. This development is part of Newmont’s strategic collaboration with Caterpillar Inc., aimed at integrating sustainable technology into mining operations. The Cat 793 XE represents a step forward in reducing carbon emissions and aligning with Newmont’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally conscious practices within the mining industry. This battery-electric vehicle initiative also highlights Newmont’s dedication to innovation in the sector.

“The arrival of the Early Learner Cat 793 XE underscores our ongoing commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our business,” said Natascha Viljoen, Chief Operating Officer at Newmont. “As we look toward the future, our focus remains on creating a safer and more productive mining environment and this battery-electric large mining truck is one more step we are taking to further advance our safety and sustainability commitments.”

Diesel combustion machines used in surface and underground mining are among the leading contributors to Newmont’s overall carbon emissions. Introducing solutions like the battery-electric Early Learner Cat 793 XE is a proactive measure by Newmont to address this issue at the mine-site level. By adopting such innovative equipment, Newmont is not only working to reduce its carbon footprint but also advancing its commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable mining practices.

“As the mining industry navigates the energy transition, we know a diverse set of solutions will be required for our customers to achieve their operational and sustainability objectives,” said Denise Johnson, Group President of Resource Industries, Caterpillar. “We are excited about our collaboration with Newmont and working with them to truly understand the implementation and impact of the Early Learner 793 XE at CC&V.”

“A year ago, Newmont announced industry-leading emission reduction targets because we understand the human contribution to climate change. We followed with a commitment to invest $500 million over five years to identify pathways forward as we firmly believe that we must make bold, lasting commitments to achieve the necessary change for a bright, healthy future,” said Tom Palmer, President and CEO of Newmont Corporation. “Today, we furthered that commitment by announcing a new strategic alliance with Caterpillar to address climate change by fundamentally changing the mining industry through the rapid development and implementation of a comprehensive all-electric autonomous mining system to achieve zero emissions mining.”

Cat 793 XE Early Learner Battery Electric Trucks Began Testing and Validation at Global Customer Sites in September

On September 21, 2024, Caterpillar announced the deployment of the next generation of battery-electric Large Mining Trucks to select customer sites for testing and validation. This advancement follows Caterpillar’s successful demonstration of its initial battery-electric 793 prototype in November 2022. In September, Seven Cat 793 XE Early Learner trucks were built and tested at Caterpillar’s Tucson Proving Ground in Arizona, marking the second phase of the Early Learner program.

In September, Caterpillar group president Denise Johnson said, “We added this Early Learner phase to intentionally send battery electric trucks to customer sites earlier than we have before in our traditional product development process. These Early Learner machines will be used to refine requirements, develop processes and validate both the machine and technology designs. Testing these trucks at our customers’ sites will provide invaluable feedback for our battery truck program.”

Caterpillar’s Early Learner program, launched in 2021, aimed to accelerate the development and testing of Cat battery electric large mining trucks. Supported by key mining customers and Cat dealers, the program expanded to include Off-Highway Trucks to meet rising demand from the quarry and aggregates industries. Through this initiative, Caterpillar collaborated closely with its customers to assess the effects of the energy transition on mine sites, including workforce, processes, infrastructure, and technology. The Early Learner phase allowed Caterpillar to validate the enhanced design elements of models like the 793 XE in real-world settings, helping the company address challenges specific to battery electric vehicles in the mining sector and support a sustainable future in mining.

In September, Caterpillar Vice President Brian Weller explained, “In less than two years, we went from retrofitting an existing piece of equipment at our proving ground to designing a ruggedized solution ready for validation at our customers’ sites. This was not a small change. Just about everything in the powertrain has been enhanced while still leveraging proven components of our Cat 793 model. With these changes, we still have learning to do with our customers in real-world applications.”

Caterpillar Successfully Demonstrates First Battery Electric Large Mining Truck In November 2022

In November 2022, Early Learner customers gathered to witness a live demonstration of Caterpillar’s prototype 793 battery electric truck on a seven-kilometer (4.3-mile) course. During this event, Caterpillar monitored over 1,100 data channels, capturing 110,000 data points per second to validate its simulation and engineering models. Fully loaded to its rated capacity, the truck reached a top speed of 60 km/h (37.3 mph). It traveled one kilometer (0.62 mile) uphill on a 10% grade at 12 km/h (7.5 mph) and then completed a one-kilometer (0.62 mile) descent on a 10% grade, recapturing energy that would typically be lost as heat and regenerating it into the battery. After the entire course, the truck retained enough battery power to complete additional full cycles.

Newmont and Caterpillar are focusing on validating and testing the Early Learner 793 XE. These efforts will provide insights into how mining operations can better incorporate battery-electric large mining trucks, setting a new, sustainable standard for the industry.

Caterpillar boasts a strong commitment to sustainability. In its 2022 Sustainability Report, information on a wide variety of health, safety, sustainability and diversity initiatives can be found. This report offers a comprehensive look at all of the company’s sustainability efforts, and more.

To learn more about Newmont’s strategic partnership with CAT click here.