Caterpillar demonstrated its first battery-powered mining truck recently at its proving ground in Arizona. The prototype 793 rigid-frame dump truck performed its first live demonstration on a 4.3-mile course while it was fully loaded. (To get a peek of the truck in action, check out the video at the end of this article.)

Caterpillar reports that the battery-electric truck clocked a top speed of 37.3 mph on its 4.3-mile test, similar to the diesel model. It traveled .62 miles up a 10 per cent grade at 7 mph and .62 miles downhill at a 10 per cent grade. Cat says that on the downhill section the truck captured energy ¢â‚¬Å“that would normally be lost to heat¢â‚¬Â and returned it to the battery. This is a process known as regenerative braking in which energy lost when applying the brakes or taking pressure off the accelerator pedal is captured and used to recharge the battery.

¢â‚¬Å“Upon completing the entire run, the truck maintained enough battery energy to perform additional complete cycles,¢â‚¬Â the company says. The company did not reveal further details about the prototype¢â‚¬â„¢s performance.

Cat also did not release specs on the truck. Its diesel counterpart has a payload of 265 tons. It weighs 89,000 pounds, making it the fifth largest of Cat¢â‚¬â„¢s eight mining truck models, and it has a 2,650-horsepower engine.

The electric 793 is the product of Caterpillar¢â‚¬â„¢s agreements with private companies to develop and deploy zero-emissions mining trucks. Companies involved in the project launched in 2021 ¢â‚¬ which Cat calls its Early Learning program ¢â‚¬ include BHP, Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont Corporation, Rio Tinto and Teck Resources Limited. The program also includes Cat customers who agree to test the zero-emission products being developed.

The goal of the programme is to accelerate the development of Cat¢â‚¬â„¢s battery-electric trucks at participating customers¢â‚¬â„¢ sites, Cat says. The company says the program also enables it to collaborate with its customers as it develops products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

¢â‚¬Å“Our global team came together to develop this battery truck at an accelerated pace to help our customers meet their sustainability commitments,¢â‚¬Â says Caterpillar Resource Industries Group President Denise Johnson. ¢â‚¬Å“This demonstration is a significant milestone, and we are excited for these trucks to get to work at customers¢â‚¬â„¢ sites around the world in the near future.¢â‚¬Â