KATHMANDU : China has taken another step in commercial EV development with the delivery of the world’s first pure electric mining truck powered by sodium-ion batteries. The vehicle was officially handed over on August 4 at the Tangshan Sanyou mine.
The truck is the result of a joint development project between Hina Battery and Tony Heavy Industry. It is based on Tonly’s TLE120 mining truck platform and uses Hina’s Haixing sodium-ion battery system.
The battery pack has a capacity of 676 kWh and features cells with an energy density of 165 Wh/kg. It is designed for short-distance, heavy-load mining operations.
According to Hina Battery, the truck supports DC fast charging, allowing the battery to recharge from 0% to 100% in 20 to 25 minutes. The battery is rated for more than 8,000 charge cycles, matching the expected service life of the truck.
One of the key advantages of sodium-ion technology is its performance in cold weather. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion cells experience much lower capacity loss at low temperatures. This makes the truck well suited for open-pit mines operating in northern China’s harsh winter conditions.
The electric mining truck also eliminates tailpipe emissions and significantly reduces noise compared to conventional diesel-powered mining trucks.
Following the delivery, the vehicle will begin real-world mining operations. The performance data collected under heavy-load conditions will be used to further improve future versions of the truck.
The launch follows another recent milestone for Hina Battery, after FAW Jiefang completed all-scenario testing of a heavy-duty truck powered by the company’s sodium-ion battery technology.
