​The Challenge, a global competition, is expected to drive technology innovators across all industries to develop new concepts and solutions for large-scale haul truck electrification systems aimed at significantly cutting emissions from surface mining. The Challenge also aims to demonstrate an emerging market for charging solutions in mining, accelerate commercialisation of solutions, and integrate innovations from other industries into the mining sector.

BHP, Rio Tinto, and Vale launched the Charge On Innovation Challenge in May of this year, initiating the EOI process on 18 May. The patrons, supported by Austmine, will assess the proposals over the next month and select a shortlist of vendors who will then formally pitch their Challenge solutions.

At the end of the pitch phase, the Challenge patrons will endeavour to select the most desirable charging concepts identified as having broad industry appeal and application, as well as providing a standard geometry that enables chargers to service trucks from different manufacturers. The first concepts could be ready for site trials in the next few years.

Vale´s Charge On Innovation Challenge Project lead, Mauricio Duarte, said: "We are very happy with the results of the first phase of the project. It´s still early to talk about the success of the challenge, but it is clear that the industry has reached a new level: we worked together on a common sustainability agenda and we will work collectively to reach our goals, gaining safety and speed on our way to low carbon mining."

BHP’s Charge On Innovation Challenge Project Lead, Scott Davis, said: “The Charge On Innovation Challenge is a great example of the current collaborative work being done by the mining industry in seeking solutions to decarbonise mining fleets. The Challenge received interest from companies based in over 20 countries, showing the truly global reach of the opportunity to help reduce haul truck emissions”

John Mulcahy, Rio Tinto’s lead for the Charge On Innovation Challenge, said “21 mining companies, all focussed on lowering carbon emissions, have joined as patrons. Together we’re encouraging technology innovators to help us introduce large-scale haul truck electrification solutions. The sooner we bring these technologies to market, the sooner we can introduce them to our fleet, and reduce emissions.”

More information on the Charge On Innovation Challenge can be found at www.chargeoninnovation.com.