The company will be procuring fuel cells for a hydrogen-powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) fleet from outside suppliers, reported Nikkei Asia.
A Komatsu 291t 930E truck has been converted to a fuel cell and lithium-ion battery powered prototype by Anglo American, in partnership with engineering firms Williams. Trials are due to start at Anglo's Mogalakwena platinum group mine in South Africa this year.
For that vehicle, new power development will replace vehicles' diesel engines with a high-voltage distribution unit behind it that can offer energy storage exceeding 1,000kWh.
UK-based mechanical engineering firm JCB also launched a 20-tonne excavator powered by a hydrogen fuel cell last year.
Analysts told this year's African Mining Indaba conference this year that adoption of hydrogen fuel cells was expected in heavy-duty and mass transit vehicles even if battery electric motors dominate the passenger car segment.
