The foundation for the relationship between WAE and Liebherr was laid in March 2022, when Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) acquired WAE as part of their journey to becoming an international renewable resource company. As part of FMG, WAE – an industry leader in the electrification and energy storage sectors – is working to support Fortescue Future Industries – FMG’s green energy enterprise – in its work in battery technology.
In June 2022, FMG and Liebherr announced they were forming a partnership, with the intention of developing and supplying zero emission mining trucks as a step towards decarbonising the mining sector. Key to this partnership is Liebherr’s ability to work in conjunction with WAE and Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) to develop electric battery and fuel cell systems that will be integrated into Liebherr’s T 264 mining trucks. WAE’s extensive expertise in developing energy storage solutions for a wide range of sectors will be crucial in ensuring that this project becomes a success.
Dave Rawlins, WAE’s Head of Engineering Technology said “We are delighted to be working on a strategic partnership with Liebherr to integrate zero emission drive systems into Liebherr products. This partnership will enable customers, including FMG, to move towards net zero emissions through delivery and management of drive solutions across the complete product lifecycle.”
Bryant Ward, Managing Director, Liebherr Mining Equipment Newport News Co., also spoke about the partnership between WAE and Liebherr. “Working with the WAE team has been a fantastic experience. The teams between WAE and Liebherr work very well together and truly operate as one team. The partnership helps to rapidly expand our development capabilities and accelerate bringing products to market. Also, bringing the electrical energy specialists together with the truck specialists enables us to produce a high quality and high-performance product for the mining industry.”
Liebherr’s partnership with both WAE and FMG became a key part of Liebherr’s Zero Emission Mining Program. Liebherr’s trolley trucks and electric mining excavators already provide low and zero emission solutions for customers. However, Liebherr is continuing to work within the Zero Emission Mining Program so that they can provide complete zero emission mining solutions for dozing, loading, and hauling – free of fossil fuels – by 2030.
Liebherr is working with Tier 1 companies like WAE and FMG to meet its 2030 deadline and provide solutions that will lead the industry in both technological innovation and cost efficiency.
While at Bauma, Ward discussed Liebherr’s efforts in the zero emission space with customers and professionals within the mining industry. “The response from customers at Bauma was tremendously positive. I personally received several comments from customers and industry peers that Liebherr has an advanced and clear strategy for moving forward with zero emission mining products.”
Supply of the zero emission mining trucks being developed by Liebherr, WAE, and FFI is expected to commence after the conclusion of a two-year joint development period between the three companies. There is already significant interest from other mining companies in the solutions that FFI, WAE, and Liebherr are developing. Once the initial field deliveries of the zero emission T 264 trucks have been made to FMG, it is intended to offer these products to more customers.