The world’s largest zero-emission haul truck, developed by First Mode in collaboration with Anglo American, has successfully completed a year of operational trials, demonstrating its potential as a diesel alternative. The vehicle is powered by a combination of hydrogen fuel cells and batteries.
First Mode’s nuGen™ Haulage Solution, which replaces all diesel components in the haulage ecosystem, was deployed at Anglo American’s Platinum Group Metals mine site in South Africa. The proof-of-concept mining truck achieved impressive results, surpassing performance benchmarks in terms of speed and payload. The truck achieved zero-emission haulage, operated alongside diesel vehicles, and demonstrated performance on par with diesel trucks.
The trial showcased the feasibility and urgency of scaling the nuGen™ Haulage Solution to reduce the mining industry’s reliance on diesel.
Data analysis of nearly six terabytes of captured data and optimization efforts have informed the development of the next generation nuGen™ powerplant. First Mode is now focused on scaling and commercializing the solution, with plans to demonstrate the systems on Komatsu platforms in early 2024.
Source: MEDIA RELEASE
Image Source: First Mode (courtesy of Anglo American)