Headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, BluVein is working with a suite of OEM truck companies to develop dynamic charging technology to enable mining vehicles to be recharged while in operation.
When commercialised, the advanced technology will allow higher utilisation rates of electrified mining trucks, faster and easier installation and relocation and less maintenance.
BluVein started as a partnership between Brisbane based engineering company Olitek and a European-based electric highways developer. BluVein has adapted the technology for harsh mining applications.
The BluVein system comprises a “hammer” which senses and connects with a charging rail which encloses high-voltage conductors.
The charging rail is mounted overhead in underground mines or on short poles in surface mining applications and is installed in sections enabling fast installation, easier repair and maintenance and simplified relocation.
The hammer, which is designed for harsh mining conditions, attaches and detaches from the rail automatically in two stages. Firstly connecting with the outer rail case before connecting to the high-voltage conductors.
The company has two versions of the the system. BluVein1 which is for underground applications has a charging speed of 1MW and BluVeinXL for open pit applications will be 8MW.
“While power transfer while in motion is our obvious advantage, our system is basically an automated IP2X-rated power connection that can transfer up to 8 MW of energy” said BluVein CEO James Oliver.
“All miners see the need for an industry-standardised, OEM-agnostic, safe, dynamic charging infrastructure to suit mixed OEM open-pit fleets.
“Early studies show the batteries can be reduced as much as 60% when coupled with dynamic charge that has enough capacity to power the drive and charge the battery.”
BluVein is in discussions with Sandvik, MacLean, Volvo and Scania, among others, on preparing demonstration vehicles for the BluVein1 pilot site. The company says the system is OEM agnostic and can be used for different types of electrified mining vehicles.
Bluvein’s open-pit model, Bluvein XL, was named among eight winners of the Charge On Innovation Challenge which is an innovation initiative including a consortium of mining companies to develop and commercialise charging technology for the mining industry.
Late last year, Austmine, which manages the BluVeinXL project, welcomed Rio Tinto, OZ Minerals, BHP, Newcrest Mining, Evolution Mining and Freeport-McMoRan to the consortium of funding members to fast-track the BluVein technology.
“Being directly involved with the BluVeinXL Consortium provides a unique opportunity to bring together world-class innovators in advancing electrification of mining haul trucks.” said Austmine’s Director Dr Robert Trzebski.
“Following on from last year’s Charge On Innovation Challenge it is very gratifying to see global collaboration continuing at an industry scale.”
Bluvein is planning to conduct its first pilot demonstration later this year.
Daniel Bleakley is a clean technology researcher and advocate with a background in engineering and business. He has a strong interest in electric vehicles, renewable energy, manufacturing and public policy.