Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 27, Diversified miner Rio Tinto has launched its first battery-swap electric haul truck trial at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, in partnership with China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) Qiyuan. The trial represents a key step in the company’s efforts to test cost-effective technologies to reduce emissions from its haulage fleet, which is one of the largest contributors to its Scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint.

Over the past year, Rio Tinto and SPIC Qiyuan have deployed eight 91-ton Tonly trucks, supported by 13 batteries with 800 kWh capacity each, a battery swapping station, a static charger, and associated infrastructure. The trucks will be used in tailings dam construction and topsoil transport, providing the company with practical experience in operating and maintaining a full battery-electric haulage and swap-charging system.

Battery-swap technology allows a depleted battery to be replaced in under seven minutes, avoiding downtime associated with fixed charging facilities and enhancing fleet efficiency.

Ben Woffenden, Rio Tinto GM for global equipment and diesel transition, said: “The launch of this trial with SPIC Qiyuan is an important milestone, harnessing China’s widely used and leading battery swap technology in a partnership that supports Rio Tinto’s drive to accelerate low-carbon innovation. The rapid deployment and fast-tracked operational learnings have highlighted the importance of partnerships in advancing low-emission haulage alternatives for our business.”

He added: “By working with partners such as SPIC Qiyuan and Tonly, Rio Tinto is rapidly identifying and adopting cost-effective, proven innovations that can support operational excellence and advance decarbonisation goals.”

The trial will continue through the end of 2026. Insights gained from the program will inform Rio Tinto’s assessment of battery-swap technology across its broader fleet of 700 haul trucks, around 100 of which fall into the small to medium payload category (100–200 t) suitable for current-generation systems.

The Oyu Tolgoi project trial demonstrates Rio Tinto’s commitment to advancing low-emission solutions in mining operations while leveraging international partnerships to deploy proven technologies. The initiative not only supports the company’s decarbonisation objectives but also provides practical operational experience, enabling informed decisions on future fleet electrification strategies.

Through this trial, Rio Tinto aims to combine innovation with operational efficiency, ensuring that cost-effective low-carbon technologies can be integrated into large-scale mining operations while maintaining productivity and safety standards.