CleanTechnica: "Rio Tinto & BHP collaborate on battery-electric haul truck trials in the Pilbara." Rio Tinto is an Anglo-Australian multinational mining company, the world's second largest metals + mining corporation. BHP Group Limited is a global miner of iron ore, copper, coal, nickel + potash. Pilbara is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia, known for its Aboriginal peoples, ancient landscapes, red earth, and its vast mineral deposits, especially iron ore. These 2 large mining companies "will work with manufacturers Caterpillar and Komatsu to conduct independent trials of their battery-electric haul trucks, including testing of battery, static and dynamic charging systems, to assess performance and productivity in the Pilbara environment." The 2 mining companies share the ambition of net zero 'operational' greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Two points: 'operational' means net zero only on site, because after all they are mining coal along with other minerals. And obviously 2050 is way too late to be helpful in the energy transition. "Caterpillar and Komatsu will each provide one truck each to both BHP and Rio Tinto for these trials. BHP will trial the Caterpillar trucks, while Rio Tinto will trial the Komatsu trucks. Outcomes of the trials will be shared between BHP and Rio Tinto." The diesel version of the CAT 793F mining truck has 2560 horsepower, gross weight of 4250 tons + can carry 256 tons of ore. Getting monsters like this off the surface of the planet would be a big step forward. I wanted to post this story just to demonstrate that electric vehicles are not just family cars after all.  Â
