Abstract

Change management refers to a process of navigating the challenges and disruptions encountered when introducing a new technology into an existing workplace. The challenges may stem from shifting workplace culture, newly required processes, changing responsibilities and the technical implementation of unfamiliar systems. Accommodating battery electric vehicle (BEV) technologies in existing mining operations will especially impact production and maintenance teams. BEVs change how production teams manage their activities, since lithium-ion batteries have less energy capacity, and therefore less slack, than diesel machines. And for maintenance teams, troubleshooting and maintaining high-voltage systems blurs the lines between traditional electrical and mechanical technicians' responsibilities, potentially changing their entire workflow. A BEV fleet also requires processes, tools and human capital to manage battery degradation, charging method optimization, battery disposal and mine layout / design. In some cases, BEVs may also be introduced alongside technologies like advanced automation and digital solutions, further complicating the change management process.

The EVMO (Electric Vehicles in Mining Operations) project was created to address these challenges through education and awareness. This NRCan-funded research project will shed light on the challenges and resulting change management strategies developed by four Canadian mine sites that have adopted BEVs. The project team have conducted interviews at all levels of these mining organizations, from technicians and operators to mine management, to identify (a) the strategies put in place to implement BEVs and (b) the change management strategies used to ensure their projects were successful.  This presentation will provide an overview of the challenges faced and the strategies that form their best practice for adopting and scaling BEV fleets. This includes strategies for coordinating maintenance teams, creating change champions at every level of the organization and creating feedback loops for learning between operations and maintenance teams.