Green unmanned mining trucks help Inner Mongolia slash emissions

Unmanned mining trucks fully loaded with stripped soil and rock are transported to the dumping site on Saturday. (Photo by Xing Le/For chinadaily.com.cn)

On May 15, the "Huaneng Ruichi" cluster of 100-unit unmanned electric mining trucks were officially assembled and put into operation at the Huaneng Yimin open-pit mine, marking the first time that unmanned electric mining trucks have been assembled and put into operation in such a large scale in the world.

These unmanned trucks can annually replace over 15,000 metric tons of diesel fuel, resulting in a reduction of 48,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and demonstrating significant environmental and low-carbon advantages. Equipped with autonomous perception, planning, and decision-making capabilities, they also integrate intelligent dispatching, equipment monitoring platforms, and full-process automation for mining, transportation, dumping and battery swapping.

Shu Yingqiu, director of Huaneng Yimin open-pit mine, said, "The power for our pure electric unmanned mining trucks is entirely sourced from photovoltaic green energy. Each truck's comprehensive transport efficiency reaches 120 percent of manual operations, operates continuously in extreme cold as low as -40 C, and meets demanding conditions such as high vibration and impact during operation."

Traditional open-pit coal mines, which employ single-bucket or truck intermittent processes, face challenges such as high truck numbers, transportation safety risks, and intense driver workloads. Advances in autonomous driving technology now enable large-scale application in this sector, freeing drivers from labor-intensive tasks and significantly improving safety.

The stable operation of these unmanned trucks is enabled by 5G communication. In high-altitude cold regions with complex geological conditions, autonomous driving enhances equipment safety, minimizes human intervention in harsh environments, reduces labor costs, improves working conditions, and lowers accident risks, delivering substantial economic and social benefits.