If you think battery-powered heavy trucks cannot work at -44°C, please think twice. A unique pilot project is carried out in northern Sweden.

Kaunis Iron’s logistics manager Lars Wallgren said: “If this technology can be used here, it may be used anywhere.” Kaunis Iron is an iron mine that recently restarted outside Pajala north of the Arctic Circle.

Kaunis Iron has teamed up with the Swedish power company Vattenfall, Volvo Trucks, ABB and Wist Last & Bus on a pilot project to prove that battery power is very suitable for long-distance transportation of ore even in extremely cold conditions.

The Kaunis mine is located just a stone’s throw from Sweden’s northern border and Finland, but the nearest railway is 150 kilometers away. The electrified iron ore line takes the ore from the Pitkäjärvi loading and unloading station near Svappavaara by train to the port of Narvik on the North Atlantic coast of Norway.

All-electric heavy trucks are the trend of the future

Kaunis Iron's goal is to electrify the first stop of this route, which is the transportation of heavy trucks. Five years from now, all trucks on this route will be battery powered.

"Stakeholders of any type cannot solve this challenge. Industrial innovation requires collaboration between experts. Therefore, it is gratifying that we have assembled such a strong team to challenge the Arctic with electric heavy vehicles. Climate," Lars Wallgren said. Ebba Bergbom Wallin of Volvo Trucks of Sweden is excited about the truck's performance in the Arctic environment.

"This will help us evaluate how to use electric trucks in extreme cold conditions to improve efficiency and reduce climate impact. Winter testing of Volvo trucks will provide real-life experience and aim to further improve the technology." She said.

Testing of the charging infrastructure is part of the pilot program. ABB provided 3 high-power charging units, each with a standard CCS socket of 175 kW. Equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 264 kWh and a 400 kW electric motor, the testing of a 32-ton heavy-duty truck will bring knowledge that will benefit the entire automotive industry.

Previously, Vattenfall and Kaunis Iron formed a partnership to develop solutions for the electrification of rocks and passenger vehicles for the mine itself and other parts of the company.

"The Swedish mining industry is facing major changes to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and develop climate-efficient and responsible mining operations. This is a prerequisite for the transition to a sustainable society and contributing to local development with minimal climate impact Kaunis Iron hopes to take active responsibility for this development, which is why the cooperation with Vattenfall is very important.” Kaunis Iron CEO Klas Dagertun said.

Other companies in northern Sweden that are implementing battery-powered zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles include iron ore miner LKAB, Boliden’s Aitik copper mine outside Gällivare, and Luleå. And Umeå's city bus. Editor/Xu Shengpeng