Zijin Mining has taken an unconventional approach to fleet electrification at its Wulagen zinc mine in Wuqia County, Xinjiang. When no existing ultra-class electric haul truck met the mine's requirements, the company designed its own — a 140-ton battery-electric vehicle (BEV) with a 770 kWh swappable battery pack. Then it built 290 of them.
The scale of this in-house manufacturing effort is striking. Rather than waiting for original equipment manufacturers to develop a suitable model, Zijin essentially became an OEM, producing a fleet larger than most mining truck makers deliver in a year. Each truck's swappable battery design suggests an operational model where rapid battery exchange can minimize charging downtime.
This project represents a significant capital investment in both R&D and production tooling at the Wulagen site. The 770 kWh battery capacity underscores the immense energy demands of moving zinc ore in ultra-class haulage, where diesel has traditionally dominated. Building 290 units signals the mine's long-term commitment to electric transport.
The move comes amid China's broader push to reduce diesel dependency in heavy industry, though Xinjiang's political and human rights context adds complexity. The mine's remote location may have made tailor-made electrification both a necessity and an opportunity to bypass foreign supply chains for critical mining equipment.
Industry observers will watch whether Zijin's DIY trucks match diesel models on reliability and total cost of ownership. If successful, the approach could accelerate electrification at other Chinese mines — or face challenges in scaling, safety certification, and battery lifecycle management outside the mine's controlled environment.