Hybrid truck tech goes global

A NEW hybrid truck has been doing circuits around New Hope Group’s New Acland mine for the past two years and is now attracting interest on the global market.

New Acland mine general manager David Vink said the innovative dual fuel trucks, led by project partners Mine Energy Solutions (MES) and Hastings Deering, were a great example of industry collaboration.

“We provided the trial site and wherewithal, MES the technology and Hastings Deering the hardware - so to speak (truck and engines),” Mr Vink said.

The revolutionary technology enabled the conversion of high horse powered diesel engines from 100 per cent diesel to dual fuel operation, using natural gas as the dominant fuel through sequential gas injection.

“When MES first looked for project partners in Queensland there was no one interested, but we could see the potential for this technology from the outset,” Mr Vink said.

“Now, after nearly 24 months operating on site, clocking more than 6200 hours, we’ve piqued the interest of the big boys and the sceptics.

“We’ve taken the technology from an R&D project to ready for commercial application.

“The trial is complete, MES’s technology has been proven and we are pleased to be part of this exciting project that is now going global.”