EACON Mining Technology says it has achieved a major milestone with the large-scale deployment of 52 battery electric haulage vehicles (BEVs), part of a total fleet of 58 autonomous vehicles, at the Hongshaquan 2 Open-Pit Coal Mine in northwest China. The fleet was introduced in stages, supporting both overburden removal and coal extraction, and has provided the operation with extensive experience in managing intelligent haulage systems at scale.
From the mine’s intelligent control centre, operators manage and monitor the autonomous fleet in real time as it navigates complex routes and production zones. The trucks run safely in mixed traffic alongside crewed vehicles, underscoring the maturity and reliability of EACON’s autonomous technology.
When road conditions deteriorate, the trucks automatically adjust by slowing and steering to avoid obstacles without the need for manual input. This capability highlights the system’s ability to maintain productivity while enhancing site safety and operational resilience. Supported by the intelligent dispatch system, the unmanned trucks can autonomously plan optimal routes, load and dump with precision, and sense road conditions in real time, greatly enhancing safety and reliability.
“The application of battery-electric autonomous mining trucks has achieved zero-carbon intelligence in haulage links. This not only fundamentally reduces the safety risks of traditional mine haulage, but also significantly improves efficiency,” said Bai Shenghua, Chief Engineer of the Hongshaquan 2 Open-Pit Coal Mine.
EACON’s autonomous solution is OEM-agnostic, integrating seamlessly with any truck brand or model. It combines intelligent scheduling, automated dispatch and 360º situational perception. To date, more than 1,800 trucks have been deployed, with around 85% operating as diesel hybrids and 15% as pure electric. Working alongside mining companies and OEM partners committed to electrification, EACON has safely recorded over 50 million safe autonomous kilometres, proving the adaptability and reliability of its solution across a wide range of commodities and fleet types.
The introduction of 52 pure electric models at the Hongshaquan 2 Open-Pit Coal Mine represents one of the largest deployments of electric autonomous haulage fleets anywhere in the world. With a planned annual coal production capacity of 20 Mt, Hongshaquan 2 exemplifies how autonomous, pure electric haulage can integrate into traditional mining operations, creating a scalable pathway toward zero carbon transport. This milestone is not only transforming site operations, but is delivering measurable cuts in CO₂ emissions.
“Hongshaquan 2, EACON’s eighth battery-electric truck project, is a significant milestone for our company and for the wider industry,” said Jinbo Liu, Project Manager at EACON Mining Technology. “It proves that zero-carbon and autonomy are not distant ambitions.”
