Fast-charger specialist Tritium and electrical and control systems manufacturer Ampcontrol have been announced as one of the 21 shortlisted innovators for the international “Charge On Innovation Challenge”.
The worldwide “Charge On Innovation Challenge” – which is facilitated by Austmine and sponsored by founding patrons BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale – aims to solve one of the biggest mining challenges today: the decarbonisation of mining operations.
Ampcontrol and Tritium worked together to pitch for the challenge which asked vendors to present interoperable solutions that can safely deliver electricity to large battery electric off-road haul trucks in a way that maintains or improves current productivity levels.
Specifically, innovations were required to identify mechanisms capable of producing in the order of 400kWh of electricity to each truck within a haul cycle (i.e., load, travel, dump, return, queue). The delivered electricity is to charge a battery, and if applicable, directly propel the truck.
James Kennedy, Tritium Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, said Ampcontrol and Tritium were honoured to be announced as one of the shortlisted innovators to further research and develop innovative electrical mining solutions.
“Tritium has a strong history of developing innovative solutions to difficult problems, whether it’s fast charging technology for sub-arctic temperatures and the hottest deserts, or battery management systems for deep sea exploration,” Mr Kennedy added.
“That’s why we built our DC fast charging technology with sealed enclosures and liquid cooling, to better protect our chargers in dusty, hot, corrosive and other industrial and harsh environments.
“Through this partnership with Ampcontrol, we will be applying our expertise in power electronics and high-power DC charging in harsh environments to develop a reliable technology solution to reduce emission in the sector.”
According to Tritium’s statement, the next phase of the Challenge will comprise a pitch session followed by an in-depth review of the innovative solution proposed by the two companies to reduce carbon emissions in mining operations around the world.
