Epiroc and Skanska to Test Battery-Electric Drill Rig

Epiroc has agreed with Swedish construction company Skanska to field test the world’s first battery-electric drill rig for surface operations.

The design of the rig is based on Epiroc’s SmartROC T35 surface drill rig. In addition to zero emissions in operations, the rig comes with a range of smart features, options and enhanced automation solutions for optimal safety, reliability, and performance.

Skanska will test the rig at a quarry near Stockholm, Sweden. The machine, manufactured in Örebro, Sweden, will arrive at the quarry in September. Epiroc will announce later when the SmartROC T35 E will be available on the market.

“Epiroc has bold sustainability targets in place for the year 2030,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s president & CEO. “With the SmartROC T35 E we are taking a large step towards reaching our promise to offer a full range of emissions-free products for quarries and large construction applications.”

Epiroc says its battery-electric solutions are attracting strong interest from the market. Customers’ benefits include emissions-free operations, lower noise pollution and vibrations, and higher productivity. The machines play a vital role in Epiroc’s ambitious sustainability goals for 2030, which include halving the CO2e emissions in operations and from sold products.

Epiroc also says it will offer its complete fleet of underground mining equipment as battery-electric versions by 2025, and its full fleet for surface operations as battery-powered versions by 2030.

Source: Epiroc