Recently, Cummins' commercial hybrid solution was first put into use at Lundin Mining's Caserones copper-molybdenum mine. This milestone project marks a crucial step for the large-scale transportation equipment in mines to transition towards low-carbonization.
The vehicle put into operation this time is a 300-ton Komatsu mining dump truck, which has been retrofitted and upgraded with Cummins' First Mode hybrid solution and is now running daily under real production conditions. This is also an important achievement made by Cummins on the first anniversary of its acquisition of First Mode.
Molly Puga
The achievement of this milestone is attributed to the close collaboration between Cummins, Komatsu and Lundin Mining at both the global and local levels. The team worked together to adapt and integrate the technology under high-altitude and complex working conditions, verifying the feasibility and scalability of the hybrid solution in the field of ultra-large mining transportation. Such cooperation is crucial for accelerating the decarbonization process in the mining industry.
- Molly Puga, General Manager of Cummins First Mode
This hybrid system adopts a modular retrofit solution, combining a Cummins QSK60 diesel engine with a high-power, replaceable battery system. During the full-load downhill process, the vehicle recovers energy through regenerative braking and stores it in the on-board battery. The intelligent control system seamlessly switches between the engine and the battery and manages power, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency, enhancing reliability and overall vehicle performance throughout the transportation cycle.
The Caserones mine is located in the Andes Mountains, with an operating altitude of over 4,000 meters and steep transportation routes and harsh working conditions, providing an ideal testing scenario for verifying the performance and energy recovery capabilities of the hybrid system in extreme environments. Project operation results show that the hybrid technology can bring quantifiable efficiency improvements without affecting the production rhythm.
Marcelo Maccioni Quezada
This pilot project reflects our commitment to practical, mature and seamlessly integrated solutions into existing operational systems, and also supports our gradual scaling up to achieve emission reduction targets. This work is an important part of Lundin Mining's efforts to improve operational efficiency, promote technological innovation and implement its emission reduction strategy.
- Marcelo Maccioni Quezada, General Manager of Caserones Mine
The project will continue to verify the system's performance, durability and energy recovery effect under real working conditions, and provide data support for future commercial hybrid solutions.