Fortescue debuts hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype in pursuit of “real zero” emissions

A hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype nicknamed ‘Europa’ has made the 1,100-kilometre journey from Perth to the Pilbara where it will now begin site-based testing by Australian mining and green energy company Fortescue Metals.

Fortescue, which operates several iron ore mining projects in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, and which aims to reach “real zero” emissions by 2030 – meaning no burning of fossil fuels – says the Liebherr T 264 hydrogen-powered haul truck has arrived at the company’s Christmas Creek iron ore mine.

The 240-tonne haul truck boasts a 2,700-horsepower engine and powerful electric wheel motors, and once commissioned at Christmas Creek will be refuelled with liquid hydrogen from the nearby gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant located at Fortescue’s Green Energy Hub.

“It’s fantastic to have our hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype now joining its battery electric equivalent, Roadrunner, up at site,” said Dino Otranto, Fortescue Metals CEO.

“Europa integrates for the first time a Fortescue Zero battery into a Liebherr haul truck, marking a huge milestone in our partnership with Liebherr.

“Over the next five years we’ll be working with Liebherr to develop a fleet of zero emission haul trucks, which will be progressively deployed across our sites from 2026.”

Europa contains a 1.6MWh battery and 500kW of fuel cells, and operated off hydrogen for the first time in May, and is capable of storing over 380kg of liquid hydrogen.

Fortescue has also been testing battery electric trucks, but is keen to also try out hydrogen fuel cell alternatives, possibly because it fits into its own long term plans to be a major player in the global green hydrogen economy.

“Following the success of our battery electric haul truck prototype at site, we’re thrilled to now have Europa up and running on hydrogen,” Otranto said in a statement at the time.

“This is a huge achievement for the team and brings us another step closer to having a fleet of zero emissions^* trucks at our sites by the end of this decade.”

Fortescue has already debuted Australia’s first electric excavator at its Cloudbreak mine site in December as it advances its company-wide electrification program. Three months later, Fortescue revealed that the electric excavator – the first of three R 9400 E electric excavators from Liebherr to be commissioned – had already moved one million tonnes.

The ongoing partnership between Fortescue and Liebherr aims at developing a complete zero emission vehicle segment for mining operations. Fortescue and Liebherr announced their plans to develop a fully integrated Autonomous Haulage Solution (AHS) in July, the first of its kind in the world.

The new AHS is being developed, tested, and validated at Fortescue’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara and will integrate a Fleet Management System (FMS), onboard autonomy kit for the T 264 truck, and a high precision machine guidance system for loading equipment.

“This builds on our wider collaboration with Liebherr, where we are working together to develop and validate a fully integrated Autonomous Haulage Solution, which we’re aiming to be the first to operate in zero emission vehicles globally,” continued Otranto.

“To decarbonise mining, you need a system solution, so this new operating system which integrates a Fleet Management System and energy management will be a game changer for us in reducing our carbon emissions.”