Towards a healthier working environment with battery electric underground vehicles

摘要

A healthier working environment, lower operating costs, longer service intervals, increased performance and less need for mine ventilation are the key benefits of battery-operated electric vehicles (BEVs) in underground environments. In BEVs, the conventional diesel-powered powertrain is replaced by an electrical powertrain powered by batteries, power electronics and electric motors. This results in zero emission operation and greatly enhanced energy efficiency; however, in order to succeed in implementing safe BEVs into a day-to-day mining operation, some technological considerations and a change in mindset are required. It is important that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) design BEVs according to safe electric vehicle engineering disciplines and that mine operators adapt to the inherent limitations of BEVs to realise all of the benefits they have to offer. A BEV may not be as flexible as a respective diesel vehicle due to a shorter range. In order to enable an uninterrupted mining operation with BEVs, suitable battery charging arrangements must be designed to support BEV charging needs. This paper discusses the fundamentals of electric vehicle technologies and safe design, and presents approaches needed in order to realise the technological transformation from diesel to electric in underground mining.