K+S Group, Kassel, is testing the use of electromobility in its German mines.
The fertilizer and salt producer said the suitability of the charging infrastructure and safety underground are currently being tested in addition to everyday suitability and range of the vehicles in the Hattorf-Wintershall mine of the Werra Integrated plant.
In the long term, K+S aims to replace diesel-powered vehicles with electric vehicles in all its mines.
“Electric vehicle operation in a mine poses special challenges,” said Lars Rickfelder, Head of Underground Technology at K+S Mining in a Feb. 1 statement by the company.
“Due to general conditions such as high ambient temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius, uneven road surfaces, and large inclines, all vehicles must have good off-road capability, which also has an impact on power consumption,” he said. “Many of the off-road vehicles and pickups are on the road all day in multi-shift operation, covering up to 100 kilometers per shift. They can only ever be charged for short periods in between, and charging facilities cannot be made available everywhere in the mines.
“Making sure the vehicles are ready to go at all times is not a trivial task, certainly not in a mine,” said Rickfelder.