A formerly diesel-powered Euclid R85B haul truck, owned by Nuh Cement in T眉rkiye, that was retrofitted into an electric-propulsion machine with zero emissions. (Image: ABB)

The vehicle was a Euclid R85B haul truck, which ABB said was transitioned into an zero-emission electric machine, with collaboration from employees at Nuh Cement.

The R85B stands taller than 16 ft (4.9m), is approximately 34-ft (10m) long, and nearly 18-ft (5.5m) wide. It weighs around 132,000 lbs (60 tonnes) empty, with a maximum loaded weight up to 315,300 lbs (143 tonnes).

鈥淸It鈥檚 the] first time in the world that a vehicle of this size and class type has been fully electrified,鈥� confirmed ABB.

ABB aided the project with system engineering and contributed a BORDLINE CC200 drivetrain platform, a traction-battery, and an air-cooled traction motor.

The company said it also provided 鈥渧ehicle control electronics, a battery thermal management system, and a DC Fast charger.鈥�

Flip to electric benefits Nuh Cement鈥檚 mineworks

ABB noted switching the truck from diesel to electric will cause immediate reductions in fuel costs and CO₂ emissions.

鈥淭he retrofitting of this one truck will save approximately 100,000 litres (26,417 gallons) of diesel fuel and prevent 245 tons (222 tonnes) of CO₂ emissions annually; equivalent to 58 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year,鈥� said ABB.

Group CEO of Nuh Cement, G枚khan Bozkurt, said, 鈥淭his retrofitting conversion鈥� leads the way towards a more sustainable future for the mining and cement industries and will significantly reduce our costs and impact on the environment.鈥�

But cost-savings, sustainability, and reduced climate-impact weren鈥檛 the only benefits, as ABB noted the unique conditions and accessibility of Nuh鈥檚 cement mine also revealed advantages resulting from the electric switch.

鈥淭he cement mine, which is located in Kocaeli-K枚rfez, east of the Marmara region surrounding Istanbul, T眉rkiye, is positioned in such a way that the trucks travel downhill, fully loaded, on an average ramp gradient of between 18-20%,鈥� explained ABB. 鈥淩egenerative braking enables the truck to recharge its battery as it descends, and once unloaded, ascend to the top of the mine using only previously regenerated electric power.鈥�

Furthermore, the refurbished machine was nearing the natural end of its projected 30-year lifespan, and ABB said it anticipates the electrified version of the Euclid to operate for 鈥渕any more years.鈥�

鈥淩ather than scrap and replace the original mining vehicle, which would involve disposing of several tons of material and purchasing a new vehicle at the cost of several million dollars, the project propelled greater returns on the initial investment made by Nuh Cement some 30 years ago,鈥� said ABB.