Abstract
ABSTRACT
Assessing the Environmental and Economic Impacts of Transitioning from Diesel to Electric Trucks in Surface Mining
Batur Tokac, Asli Sari, and Qian Zhang
The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queen’s University
The mining sector globally accounts for about 4% to 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Mining companies are actively seeking strategies to significantly lower their Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with an aim to make their operations more sustainable and economically viable. A key approach being considered is the shift from diesel-powered to electrically operated haulage trucks, which is expected to notably reduce Scope 1 emissions and aid in achieving net-zero emission targets.
Electric equipment for haulage and production began being used in underground mining in the 1990s, indicating a transition to battery-powered electric vehicles. This shift has brought about enhanced efficiency and productivity in the sector, leading to reduced operational expenses and energy consumption and a marked decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, the adoption of electric haulage equipment in surface mining is still in its early stages. Electric haulage trucks, particularly those with a capacity of around 200 tonnes, are projected to be economically viable in the coming decade. However, with the rapid development of electrification technologies and market dynamics, there are persistent concerns about reliability, productivity, maintenance requirements, necessary infrastructure, capacity limitations, and the associated operational and capital costs in the context of surface mining.
This research explores the environmental and economic consequences of replacing diesel trucks with electric trucks in surface mining haulage operations. A discrete event simulation model was developed to compare the annual diesel and electricity consumption of two different haulage systems, considering factors like speed, load capacity, road profiles, maintenance demands, and performance in extreme weather conditions. The findings from this simulation were utilized to assess shifts in operational costs and Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Furthermore, an economic model centred on the energy needs of haulage trucks was implemented to investigate potential cost reductions while simultaneously decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The results of this study suggest significant advantages in transitioning to an electric haulage fleet in surface mining. In a hypothetical case study, the research found a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of up to 92.6% and a 62% reduction in operational costs, emphasizing the combined environmental and economic benefits of electrification in the mining sector. The final phase of this study will include optimizing the model and performing a sensitivity analysis to understand how various factors influence operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.