Within the next 20 years or so, all mines will be in the process of eliminating diesel vehicles, as they represent a significant cost of operation and are responsible for a significant portion of their greenhouse gas emissions. Several manufacturers have already proposed electric versions of on-road vehicles that are not adapted to Canadian open-pit or underground mining conditions. This extremely harsh environment requires appropriate technologies that can perform in very cold climates.

This applied research project led by the Institut du véhicule innovant (IVI) and supported by InnovÉÉ is part of a larger project led by Propulsion Québec and funded by Natural Resources Canada's Clean Growth Program and the Société du Plan Nord. In total, four industrial partners (Adria Power Systems, Dana-TM4, Nouveau Monde Graphite and Fournier et fils) and three research partners (CanmetMINES, National Research Council Canada and IVI) are collaborating on the development of an electric drive system, a high-voltage battery system and a high-power charger specifically designed to meet the needs of electric vehicles operating in open-pit mines. The electric propulsion system will be integrated into a mining truck platform that will be tested at a representative test site for validation.