A demonstrator of the first-ever tophammer battery-electric drill rig from Epiroc, SmartROC T35 E, was presented at Bauma. The company describes the rig as an essential step in the shift towards zero-emission drilling in surface mines.
The SmartROC T35 E is a battery-electric version of the diesel-hydraulic SmartROC T35 surface drill rig. SmartROC T35 E comes with the same type of well-proven batteries/cable and subcomponents as in the Epiroc underground battery rig solutions. Both rigs have the same performance, the difference is the energy source.
The machines are also set to play a vital role in Epiroc's ambitious sustainability goals for 2030, which include halving the CO2 emissions in operations and from sold products. Epiroc has said it will offer its complete fleet of underground mining equipment in emission-free versions by 2025 and its entire fleet for surface operations as emission-free versions by 2030.
Mining Magazine editor Craig Guthrie discussed the innovative rig and wider trends with Ulf Gyllander, global product manager at Epiroc.
What challenges were overcome to get to this deployment trial stage with the SmartROC T35 E?
We had to first examine applications, and where it would be suitable to use the unit. And we decided to start with a quarry here in Sweden. Questions arose over the infrastructure that would be needed, and there were discussions of how the machine should be powered - should it be battery-powered or electric, or both?
If you have a wheeled vehicle underground, you can drive 200-300m to a battery swap quite quickly. But to go 300m with this type of unit will take almost 15 minutes. Hence the idea to combine electric and battery on the same unit.
So it's interesting that you didn't know the solutions to these problems when you started, but reached them through consultations with customers and technical innovation. How are the trials going? What can you tell us?
Before the customer trials started, the rig went through rigorous functional tests at Epiroc's facilities. Since the autumn, the trials are up and running at good pace. Skanska Industrial Solutions is giving valuable input into this project, both before the trials started and during the testing.
And in terms of the underground experiences that the company has had in transferring those technologies, have there been any learnings from underground electric that have been taken across?
Indeed, a lot. We have been able to take advantage of the long Epiroc experience with batteries used in underground mining. Naturally, we had to adapt the knowledge to our application and situation, to ensure that we deliver a solution that will fit the needs of surface construction customers.
This is a good thing for our customers in many ways - for example we can reuse spare parts.
Fantastic. And I understand the SmartROC was upgraded earlier this year, and was already highly fuel efficient. Is that why it was chosen for this project?.
We know what the SmartROC T35 class gives our customers, with good flexibility to be used both in quarry and construction applications, paired with proven performance and low energy consumption. This all makes is a perfect rig to develop further with electric technology.
Can you explain the options around the cable and onboard battery?
The combination of batteries and cable gives flexibility and consistency in production. You will be able to tram and drill for shorter periods with the battery, but the main part of the production will be done with the cable.
