Telecom giant and EV newcomer Huawei is showcasing its latest technology in an open-pit mining operation
China’s mining industry has thrown down the gauntlet to its Western counterparts by deploying what it claims is the world’s first fleet of fully autonomous electric mining trucks. No fewer than 100 driverless, battery-powered vehicles are already operating at the Yimin open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia, slashing thousands of tons of CO₂ emissions that would otherwise be generated by traditional diesel trucks.
That said, it’s worth pointing out the irony—the trucks are hauling coal, which remains far from eco-friendly. Still, coal is China’s primary energy source and remains a cornerstone of its energy security.
The vehicle at the heart of this shift is the XCMG ZNK95 (catchy name, right?), an autonomous hauler with an 85-metric-ton payload and a 509-kilowatt-hour battery. Built from the ground up for unmanned operation, it features millimeter-wave radar, advanced visual computing, and AI integration. It’s engineered to function in extreme cold down to -40°C and can autonomously load and unload materials.
When it comes to recharging such a massive battery, downtime is minimized through a battery-swap system. Instead of plugging in, the depleted pack is removed and replaced with a fully charged one on-site, allowing the truck to get back to work immediately. The removed battery can then be recharged at a more convenient pace—powered entirely by solar energy.
“The power for our pure electric unmanned mining trucks is entirely sourced from photovoltaic green energy,” said Shu Yingqiu, director of the Huaneng Yimin open-pit mine, in an interview with China Daily. “Each truck’s comprehensive transport efficiency reaches 120 percent of manual operations, operates continuously in extreme cold as low as -40°C, and handles intense vibration and impact conditions.”
Electric mining trucks are emerging as a major trend, with battery giant CATL predicting they could make up half the market by 2028. So it’s little surprise that China is leading the charge, following its dominance in the electric vehicle sector.
Supporting this transition is telecom giant and EV newcomer Huawei, which deployed a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network at the Yimin mine. This enables real-time communication between the trucks and a centralized server room, with 500 Mbps uplink speeds and 20-millisecond latency—enough to support HD video streaming and cloud-based dispatch systems. Huawei also contributed the AI algorithms powering the trucks’ autonomous operation.
Compared to conventional human-driven mining trucks, the ZNK95 delivers a 20% boost in overall transport efficiency—translating to significant long-term cost savings. The 100-strong fleet is the product of Huaneng Group, a state-backed Chinese energy titan.
