New charging system delivers 800 kWh in 18 minutes for electric mining trucks

The biggest hurdle facing zero-emission heavy industry hasn’t been building electric haulers. It has been keeping them powered without idling away precious operational hours.

To address this, heavy equipment manufacturer LGMG has introduced new technology to phase out diesel and keep fleet operations running smoothly.

China-based LGMG showcased a fully integrated clean-energy system in live operating conditions during its inaugural Global Mining Customer Service Festival in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.

Over 500 industry leaders watched electric haulers charge up in minutes rather than hours. The integrated system combines renewable solar generation, battery storage, and megawatt-class charging to power electric fleets.

Overall, the star was a battery-electric mining truck that surged from 20% to 90% charge in just 23 minutes.

23-minute recharging

Mining operations depend on strict, continuous schedules to remain profitable. When haul trucks sit idle waiting to recharge, every minute of lost production directly erodes operating margins. Therefore, minimizing equipment downtime is essential for keep the fleet running smoothly and protect profitability.

LGMG overcame charging issues by developing a 3C fast-charging system paired with a specialized thermal management setup that operates from -30°C to 50°C. Under test conditions, the technology charges batteries from 20% to 90% in 23 minutes, delivering peak power output of roughly 3.6 MW. Under extreme conditions, the system supplies nearly 800 kWh in 18 minutes to keep fleet downtime to a minimum.

Industry participants observed a live demonstration of LGMG’s electric mining trucks operating alongside intelligent fleet dispatch, solar generation, energy storage, and ultra-fast charging infrastructure. The showcase proved that all system components can work together under real-world mine conditions.

Cutting emissions

A centralized energy management platform manages power distribution, coordinates charging schedules, and optimizes fleet dispatching. Working together, these components maximize equipment utilization and keep mine production running efficiently.

Remote mines frequently suffer from weak grid connections, forcing operations to use diesel generators and defeating the purpose of electrification.

LGMG resolves this challenge with an integrated solar-storage-charging-transportation system. On-site solar panels capture renewable energy during daylight, while high-capacity batteries store excess power for later use.

Intelligent dispatch software coordinates charging schedules with fleet demands to keep equipment operating without interruption and without relying on the grid.

“The demonstration illustrated LGMG’s approach to mining electrification, extending beyond individual machines to encompass supporting energy infrastructure,” the press release stated.

Mining companies are facing growing pressure to cut emissions. As a result, off-grid megawatt charging offers a viable blueprint for cleaner heavy industry.

Transitioning from conventional diesel haulers to battery-electric trucks offers economic and environmental benefits. Surface mining operations can lower fuel and energy costs by 40% to 60% depending on electricity rates and solar availability. And downhill loaded trips also generate energy through regenerative braking, which extends operating range and minimizes wear on physical brakes.

Leading equipment manufacturers, including Caterpillar, Komatsu, Liebherr, and SANY, are accelerating efforts to deploy zero-emission haul fleets across the industry. Transitioning to electric transport allows remote mines to avoid spending millions of dollars on high-voltage grid extensions.

LGMG is expanding its electric fleet to handle overburden removal, coal mining, high-altitude operations, and extreme environments.