ABSTRACT
With the latest advances in battery technology, fast charging capabilities, and other technologies such as regenerative braking and more efficient battery electric systems, the use of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in the mining industry is becoming more advantageous. In 2019, SRK Consulting, performed a BEV analysis for a mine in Colombia. The purpose of this study was to consider an alternative ventilation system design for a previously completed feasibility study in which an all-diesel fleet was planned to be used for the mine. For this study, the mine requested that only the haul trucks and load-haul-dump loaders (LHD) be considered for conversion from diesel to battery electric. All other equipment would be left as diesel as in the previous study. This paper presents the ventilation assumptions which were made to complete this analysis and a discussion of the results. The results of the study showed significant reductions in the ventilation system power and infrastructure requirements with battery electric haul trucks and loaders compared to their diesel equivalents, but these savings depend on the changes implemented and the level of risk willing to be taken for a switch to BEVs.
