Electric Land Cruiser for mine work

A picture of a converted electric Toyota Land Cruiser for the mining industry posted on Facebook by New South Wales-based auto electrical group GB Auto has had more than 340,000 views.

The post “The first of our battery electric LandCruisers for mining from our partnership with Tembo has arrived in our workshop in Orange!” also had at least 1200 comments and 883 shares.

It’s kept GB Auto busy replying to many of the queries and questions.

Responding to one about use around water, GB Auto says the vehicle is designed for wet and muddy mine sites so this was a factor in development. “”The battery packs are immersion tested and boxes are all sealed.”

Following a charging query, GB Auto says the vehicle has an onboard charger and all underground mine sites have plenty of access to 415V power points.

Through its work with the mining industry, GB Auto has an agreement with Tembo to help develop and distribute the Netherlands company’s converted Land Cruiser and Hilux vehicles in Australia.

Electrified vehicles are increasingly being used to replace diesel in mining, providing options to avoid emissions and particulate matter below ground and taking into account health concerns.

EVtalk reported in June last year a New Zealand company’s move to place electric utes, also adapted from the Land Cruiser, in Australian mining giant BHP’s underground fleet of 240 light vehicles.

Manawatu-based Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) launched the Voltra e-ute at EVworld NZ in Auckland in 2017 and has since refined it and packed it off to its Adelaide facilities.

Adapted from the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series and dubbed an eCruiser, the EV is going into BHP’s trial for a planned light electric vehicle (LEV) fleet at its Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia.

GB Auto has also established GB Electric Vehicles to do vehicle conversions to electric in Australia, adapting vehicles to suit individual sites.

It expects to have several vehicles ready for trials shortly.