Chinese state-backed energy giant Huaneng Group on Thursday launched the world’s largest fleet of unmanned electric mining trucks in Inner Mongolia, featuring 100 vehicles equipped with Huawei Technologies’ autonomous driving systems, as the country rapidly adopts driverless technology.
Li Shuxue, chairman of Huaneng Mengdong, a subsidiary of Huaneng Group, said the trucks – named Huaneng Ruichi – represent the world’s largest single deployment of driverless electric mining trucks. The initiative showcased China’s advancements in “transforming and digitising traditional industries”, he said.
The vehicles leverage advanced technologies, including 5G-A communications, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing platforms, smart battery swapping and high-accuracy mapping, according to Li. Tech providers include Huaneng Group, Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group and the Beijing University of Science and Technology.
The project aligns with a broader push by Chinese authorities and enterprises – from port managers to coal mine operators – to integrate AI and advanced communications into traditional industries.
The trucks are designed to autonomously load and unload mining material, as well as operate in harsh weather at the Yimin coal mine in Hulunbuir, a large city in northeastern Inner Mongolia. The vehicles could improve “overall transport efficiency” by 20 per cent compared to manned trucks, Li said.
