GROVE, England—Williams Advanced Engineering Ltd. (WAE) is synonymous with race cars and other fast-moving vehicles. But, engineers at the company will soon turn their attention to the unglamorous world of mining trucks. They are partnering with Fortescue Metals Group to create an electric haul truck that weighs 240 tons.
The project will involve the design and construction of a bespoke battery electric power train with the ability to regenerate power as the truck travels downhill. The battery will be built at WAE’s facility before being shipped to Australia for integration into a prototype haul truck for performance testing at Fortescue’s mining operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
To support the full implementation of a battery-electric haulage fleet, the project will also involve the development of a fast-charging unit that will harness renewable energy from Fortescue’s Pilbara Energy Connect network.
“We are delighted to be working with Fortescue on this pioneering project that will help enable their future decarbonization strategy, contributing to a reduction of carbon emissions in the heavy-duty mining sector,” says Craig Wilson, managing director of Williams Advanced Engineering. “High-performance battery systems are at the core of WAE. Both companies have a shared culture for innovation and rapid response, and are committed to creating a sustainable future.’’
