Zijin Mining could not find a suitable electric haul truck for its Wulagen zinc mine in Xinjiang, so it co-developed the LK220E with Longking. This 140-ton battery electric vehicle carries a 770 kWh swappable pack that can be replaced in four minutes, keeping the trucks hauling instead of charging. The mine now operates 290 of these trucks, covering over 80% of its transport needs, and powers them with local wind, solar, and battery storage. The energy cost per tonne-kilometer dropped from RMB 0.68 with diesel to RMB 0.177 with electric. Fewer drivetrain components mean lower failure rates and safer operation. This fleet is part of a broader shift where industrial vehicles on fixed routes show the strongest economic case for electrification, displacing diesel at scale and cutting operational costs significantly.
