ZERO releases second-generation EV for underground mining

Vehicle conversion company ZERO Automotive has launched its second-generation, LandCruiser-based ZED70 Ti, with mining services company Barminco signing on as the first customer to accept delivery and CarBon Leasing & Rentals confirming an order of 200 vehicles.

According to a statement on Thursday, the design features: 

• The company’s proprietary HEPS (Hazardous Environment Protection System) underbody armour protection; 
• A Toshiba 60 kilowatt hour Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) drive battery;
• Enablement for Level 3 DC ultra-fast charging with a 160 kilowatt charger (with charging time of under 25 minutes); and
• A three-phase asynchronous electric motor with regenerative braking, peak power of 200 kilowatt, and a peak torque of 1,200 newton-metres.

(Further specs are available here.)

The ZED70 Ti is based on the single or dual-cab Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series.

ZERO’s new CEO Joe Di Santo said, “Across the board, mining companies have a desire to lower their environmental impact, ZERO Automotive has been working side by side with many in the industry to provide a solution that caters to the very specific needs of underground mining.

“Following five years of development, and two years with prototype vehicles under test by Barminco and AusMinerals, we couldn’t be prouder to officially unveil the ZED70 Ti.

ZERO was established in 2018. It has previously partnered with the METS Ignited industry growth centre, which provided $400,000 for a collaborative project to accelerate ZERO’s first light-duty electric vehicle solution to market.

Zero-emissions leasing company CarBon Leasing & Rentals has confirmed an order of 200 of the new vehicles to be added to its leasing roster, commencing quarter four, 2024.

CarBon CEO Scott Gillespie said: “Mining operations across Australia are facing increasing pressure to transition their fleets to meet ESG targets and the Zero ZED70 Ti represents a new opportunity to do this in the light commercial space.

“We’ve already received a great deal of interest and look forward to deploying these innovative EVs next year to a range of customers.”

Picture: credit ZERO Automotive

Further reading

Zero Automotive delivers third minesite electric vehicle

Zero Automotive delivers zero emissions ute

$2.5 million in mining technology grants awarded

Electric utility truck launched in Australia