A major development in China’s national R&D project ‘Research and Demonstration Application of Key Technologies for Intelligent Electric Driven Heavy-Duty Vehicle Platforms’ is the launch of ‘the world’s first’ 240 t intelligent hybrid heavy-duty vehicle – XCMG’s XDE240H diesel-battery mining truck, which is now running at Shaanxi Shenyan Coal’s Xiwan open pit coal mine in Yulin.
This is a commercial operation but also functions as a national-level intelligent demonstration open-pit coal mine. The first new truck recently entered the Xiwan mining fleet with the number ‘00’ and began demonstration operations. Shaanxi Shenyan is part of China’s coal mining giant China Energy Investment Corporation (CEIC, also known as CHN Energy, created from the merger of China Guodian Corporation and Shenhua Group in 2017).
XCMG’s XDE240H mining truck is a national key research and development project led by Hunan University and XCMG Mining Machinery with other major participants including Chinese engine manufacturer Weichai, battery major CATL and industrial manufacturing and R&D giant CRRC. The project has been running for two years and the trials at Xiwan are part of the implementation test which began in July this year.
The XCMG XDE240H is described as the world’s first 240 t diesel-electric hybrid mining dump truck. It is equipped with an intelligent driving system and XCMG says not only has the advantages of its large-tonnage mining dump trucks with reliable and durable structure, comfortable driving and convenient maintenance, but additionally is greener having lower relative diesel consumption to a conventional truck.
The mine truck uses a 2,300 HP electronically-controlled engine, combined with a customised high-voltage platform battery system, with an installed capacity of 441 kWh. It is ‘perfectly integrated’ with the high-voltage platform of the electric drive dump truck and has a cited braking energy recovery and utilisation efficiency of over 96%.
The more energy is recovered, the more diesel is saved. The truck uses an independently developed high-torque wheel hub drive system with a maximum output torque of 720,000 Nm, which means it always maintains strong power and can run smoothly even with heavy loads uphill. XCMG says it also passes efficiently; has an intelligent driving system; plus is capable of autonomous operation, making it safer and more efficient.
Ultimately, the comprehensive fuel consumption the Chinese OEM says is reduced by 17% compared with traditional mine trucks, including imported brands. The truck is described as a breakthrough “achieved by XCMG’s years of persistence in technological innovation. It is also a staged victory for XCMG’s firm implementation of the ‘five modernisations’ transformation and upgrading of the industry, illuminating the future of smart mines and green mines.”
