Selling electric utes to miners is becoming big business, with the latest entrant to Australia expecting sales of 7,200 retrofitted Land Cruisers by the end of 2026.
To put that in context, other deals this year include Europe’s Mining Electric Vehicle Company (MEVCO) committing to buy 8,500 retrofitted Toyota Hiluxs and Land Cruisers over the next five years, and BHP’s intention to do the same for its 5000-vehicle fleet at some point.
The latest partnership is between Climatech Zero and Irish company CoolPlanet, which has licensed its autonomous vehicle operating system (AVOS) to the former. Climatech Zero plans to use it in Huber Land Cruisers that have been specifically retrofitted to use in mine sites.
The Huber ‘Mine Changer’ vehicles are retrofitted with 35 kWh battery packs which delivers a range of 120 km.
The plan is to introduce the vehicles to Australia in 2024.
Sales forecasts are for 200 vehicles in 2024, 1000 in 2025 and 6000 in 2026.Â
The sales pitch partly highlights the safety aspect of autonomous vehicles, and partly the decarbonisation element, saying that Australian mines will be able to eliminate diesel particulate matter from light vehicles.
“Our interviews with mining companies indicate significant pent-up demand for LEVs, as miners seek to electrify their operations,” says Climatech Zero head of mining Rod Saffy.
“The most popular light vehicle in the industry is the Land Cruiser LC70, a very sturdy and durable vehicle suitable for mine sites. CoolPlanet and Climatech Zero have an arrangement with Huber Automotive to supply electrified Land Cruiser LC70s and the demand forecasts are excellent. Our sales projections align with the timelines for obtaining the vehicles from Huber.”
Mine site momentum begins
The shift by miners towards EVs is a slow moving beast: BHP was testing EV utes as long ago as 2018 at its mines, before signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Toyota this year to electrify its 5000-strong fleet.Â
Even then, given Toyota does not yet have an all-electric car available in Australia at all and is still attacking EVs as a concept, there are questions around how or even whether that particular arrangement will play out.Â
The cost of retrofitting vehicles into EVs is not unsubstantial, however.Â
The $1 billion MEVCO deal with Australian company SEA to retrofit 8,500 Hiluxes and Land Cruisers averages out to $118,000 per vehicle.
CoolPlanet and Climatech Zero began working together in 2018, deploying climate-related software, but this will be the first time working together on EVs in Australia.Â
Climatech Zero says it already works with five Australian mining companies, including Mallee Resources in Tasmania.Â
“CoolPlanet is a true pioneer in decarbonisation, energy transition, electric vehicles and advanced operating systems that support leading edge engineering,” says Climatech Zero CEO Peter O’Connell.Â
“Climatech Zero has replicated their journey in Australia and in New Zealand, and together we are extending those skills to one of our most complex and important industry sectors: mining.”
Rachel Williamson is a science and business journalist, who focuses on climate change-related health and environmental issues.