GM and Komatsu agreed to jointly develop and validate hydrogen fuel cell technology for the mining industry. The companies say that hydrogen fuel cells, which are lightweight and quick to refuel, are ideal for electrifying applications traditionally powered by diesel engines. Hydrogen provides an efficient way to pack large amounts of energy on board the vehicle without compromising payload capacity.
In addition, fuel cells offer a zero-tailpipe emission solution for vehicles with extreme hauling requirements, such as the Komatsu 930E mining truck with a nominal payload of 320 tons. These vehicles typically operate at a single mine throughout their lifetime, simplifying the challenges of sizing and deploying an effective hydrogen refueling infrastructure to service the fleet.
Komatsu’s fuel cell-powered mining trucks will provide an additional pathway for decarbonization beyond battery-trolley or battery-static charging solutions, without the need for additional charging infrastructure within mines.
GM and Komatsu intend to test the first prototype HYDROTEC-powered mining vehicle in the mid-2020s at Komatsu’s Arizona Proving Grounds (AZPG) research and development facility. This vehicle will be powered by over 2 megawatts of HYDROTEC power cubes.
Source: Komatsu
