The new 793 electric truck from Caterpillar is just the tip of the iceberg as the global mining industry pivots into electrification and interoperability.If bigger is better, then the latest electric truck from Caterpillar has the drop on almost every other electric vehicle out there. The new electric truck is a zero emission version of the company’s massive diesel-powered 793 mining truck.
We’re reaching out to the company for more details. Meanwhile, one tantalizing clue popped up in 2018, whenSolid-state battery or not, Caterpillar appears to be satisfied that the electric truck can meet, if not beat, its diesel equivalent on performance. Last week’s announcement followed a workout for the new truck on a 4.3 mile course in Arizona.
“Fully loaded to its rated capacity, the truck achieved a top speed of 60 km/h . The loaded truck traveled one kilometer up a 10% grade at 12 km/h . The truck also performed a one kilometer run on a 10% downhill grade, capturing the energy that would normally be lost to heat and regenerating that energy to the battery,” Caterpillar explained.
“Upon completing the entire run, the truck maintained enough battery energy to perform additional complete cycles,” the company added.underscores a key advantage of electric drive. Gas and diesel vehicles do have batteries, but they are relatively small. It is difficult to justify the expense of installing a regenerative braking system under a fossil fuel scenario. In contrast, electric vehicle battery packs are massive. They can store far more energy than a conventional vehicle battery.
zshahan3 More electrification is undoubtedly good news But others are already making electric trucks, and have been for quite some time