Anglo American Platinum hopes to see hydrogen-powered trucks operational by the end of the year.First announced in 2019, the move towards hydrogen mining trucks – or more specifically fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) – has taken longer than initially anticipated, mostly due to Covid-19-related delays.But, says Natascha Viljoen, CEO of Anglo American Platinum, it has been all systems go in the past few months and first motion is now expected before the end of this year.“We are particularly proud of the development of these trucks, and we hope to have wheels on the ground before the end of the year.”She said hydrogen fuel cell technology had the potential to reinvent transport completely, offering a clean alternative to traditional petrol and diesel engines. “The 290-ton truck we are generating will be filled with green hydrogen. A 75-MW photovoltaic plant will be developed to generate the green hydrogen used in the trucks,” said Viljoen. “These trucks will assist in developing the heavy-duty application, and we need to bring it to market as soon as possible.”The mining haul truck, explained Viljoen, would use a hybrid of fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries, ultimately making it the largest electric vehicle in the world. She said the truck project was part of Anglo American Platinum’s commitment to reduce its global greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.It is expected that the first truck will be tested at the platinum group metals mine in Mogalakwena, South Africa before being used in other locations.
