Fuel-related expenses constitute a substantial portion, approximately 40%, of the overall haulage costs in surface mining operations. In response to the growing need for a greener and more sustainable future, there is a pressing demand to minimize fuel consumption. Emerging as a viable solution to this challenge, autonomous hybrid electric trucks, exemplified by the EACON 136 model, are poised to revolutionize the industry.
Recognizing the importance of fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, the National Institute of Metrology of China recently conducted a comprehensive evaluation comparing the EACON 136 autonomous hybrid electric truck with a traditional human-driven diesel truck model.
To ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment, the evaluation considered various scenarios and road conditions that can influence fuel consumption. Both truck models were subjected to rigorous testing under standard operational cycles within the same working area, encompassing full capacity loading, haulage, and dumping. The evaluation of fuel consumption accounted for the distance traveled and the volume hauled.
Two key metrics, namely “fuel consumption per unit mass” and “fuel consumption per unit volume,” were utilized to gauge fuel usage. The results were striking, as the EACON 136 with autonomous capability significantly outperformed the human-driven diesel model, achieving an impressive fuel savings rate of 30.88%.
The outstanding fuel savings achieved by the EACON 136 are attributed to two primary factors: autonomous driving technology and hybrid power. Leveraging optimized vehicle dispatching, meticulous route planning, and fine-tuning of driving behavior patterns, autonomous driving reduces fuel consumption substantially.
As global efforts intensify to foster sustainable mining practices, the demonstrated benefits of autonomous hybrid electric trucks propel the industry towards a greener future. This groundbreaking technology showcases the capacity for significant fuel savings and a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions.