When will Malaysia be able to utilise unmanned electric trucks like Huaneng?
In a major technological milestone for the mining and energy sectors, Chinese state-owned energy company Huaneng has successfully deployed 100 fully autonomous electric mining trucks at the Yimin coal mine in Inner Mongolia. This deployment marks the creation of the world’s largest driverless truck fleet operating at a single mining site.
The cutting-edge trucks are powered by advanced autonomous driving technologies developed by Huawei. These unmanned vehicles integrate a suite of next-generation systems, including artificial intelligence (AI), 5G-Advanced communication networks, cloud computing, and intelligent battery-swapping infrastructure.
Moreover, together, these technologies allow the trucks to navigate complex and hazardous mining environments with precision and efficiency, while reducing the need for human intervention. Each electric mining truck runs on a powerful 564 kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, offering both high energy capacity and enhanced thermal stability.
These robust batteries enable the trucks to carry loads of up to 90 metric tons, making them suitable for the heavy demands of industrial mining operations. Despite their size and power, the vehicles are engineered to function reliably in extremely harsh environments, including temperatures as low as -40°C.
The autonomous trucks are capable of independently handling essential tasks such as loading, hauling, and unloading mining materials. This level of automation significantly increases operational safety by reducing the exposure of human workers to dangerous conditions. It also improves efficiency and consistency as the vehicles can work around the clock.
On top of that, designed specifically to meet the challenges of rugged terrain and severe weather common to mining regions like Inner Mongolia, these trucks represent a significant advancement in industrial automation and clean energy transport. This supports China’s broader goals for carbon neutrality and sustainable development in the mining industry.
The rollout of this fleet highlights China’s rapid progress in integrating smart technologies into traditional industries. It also demonstrates the potential for AI and clean energy to transform heavy-duty logistics, particularly in sectors historically dependent on fossil fuels and manual labor.
As global industries look to decarbonize and modernize operations, Huaneng and Huawei’s collaboration at the Yimin mine offers a glimpse into the future of mining, autonomous, electric and intelligently connected. So when will we see technology like this be used here in Malaysia or will we forever depend on cheap foreign labour?
