"Assessment, design and operation of battery-supported electric mining vehicles and machinery", known as "Mine Operational Vehicles Electrification (MOVE)," is an industry project funded by Future Battery Industry Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) in collaboration with BHP Nickel West, IGO Limited, Energetics Pty Ltd, Allkem, Multicom Resources Limited, the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM), Queensland’s Department of Energy and Public Works (DEPW), the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) and the University of Western Australia. The project is led by Dr Ali Pourmousavi, A/Prof Nesimi Ertugrul and A/Prof Wen Soong at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, the University of Adelaide.

Mining is critical industry in Australia. About 30-50% of the total mine site energy usage is related to diesel-powered mining vehicles. This represents a significant proportion of current mining operational costs and the prevalence of diesel fuel usage present a significant health and safety concerns. The mining industry is also under pressure from governments, investors, and society to reduce their share of 4 to 7% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. The use of electric vehicles and machinery combined with partial or stand-alone renewable energy powered microgrids provides a pathway to more efficient, sustainable and safer mining operations. For the next 3.5 years, we will provide the Australian mining industry with the tools and information needed to help transition their operations to using battery-supported electric vehicles (BEVs) and associated stationary machinery on mine sites. The Project will enable the resources sector to reduce the costs and improve the reliability of energy, improve occupational health and safety (OHS), and reduce the carbon footprint of production.

• Haul trucks electrification
• Mine electrification
• Energy system design for mobile fleet
• Electrified mobile fleet management