Commercial vehicle electrification technology company Proterra and equipment manufacturer Komatsu, in the last quarter of 2021, announced a new collaboration to electrify next-generation underground mining machines using Proterra’s battery technology.

Under the collaboration, Proterra will supply its H Series battery system technology to Komatsu for the development of battery-electric load haul dump trucks, drills, and bolters for underground hard rock mining.

Komatsu plans to use Proterra’s high-performance battery systems for the development of prototype machines this year before the expected start of commercial production in 2022.

The collaboration represents Proterra’s entry into the underground mining equipment market.

“Proterra is excited to build on our relationship with a proven, industry-leader like Komatsu to electrify mining machines with our electric vehicle (EV) technology,” says Proterra president Gareth Joyce.

“The benefits of zero-emissions, battery-electric vehicles extend far beyond our roads and cities,” he says.

Additionally, switching to battery-electric technology means helping protect clean air for those working in underground mines while delivering a high-performance technology solution where safety and reliability are paramount.

“We are excited to be working with Proterra to bring zero-emissions mining solutions to underground hard rock mining,” says Komatsu hard rock mining VP Josh Wagner.

“Leveraging their battery technology, we seek to offer customers increasing sustainable solutions for their operations.”

This is the second collaboration between Proterra and Komatsu.

The two companies previously announced an agreement in which Proterra supplied its industry-leading battery systems to support Komatsu in electrifying its first medium-sized hydraulic excavators.

Komatsu has helped advance customer options to mitigate environmental impact through product development for many years, through initiatives such as its hybrid hydraulic excavators kickoff in 2008, which marked the world’s first hybrid construction equipment on the market.

Komatsu also announced its new greenhouse-gas alliance with customers to actively collaborate on product planning, development, testing and deployment of the next generation of zero-emissions mining equipment and infrastructure, last year.

The alliance’s initial target is advancing Komatsu’s power-agnostic truck concept for a haulage vehicle that can run on a variety of power sources including diesel electric, electric, trolley, battery power and even hydrogen fuel cells.

Designed and manufactured in the US, Proterra battery systems leverage industry-leading energy density and a customisable design to fit within a variety of vehicles.

Proterra battery systems offer an outstanding application for confined, underground mining settings where safety and durability are of utmost importance, while helping to mitigate air and noise pollution through battery-electric technology.

It uses rigorous testing to ensure its battery packs are designed to withstand tough conditions and meet or exceed the latest functional safety standards.