This massive 121-ton electric dump truck never uses more energy than it generates on its own — here’s how that works

Andreas Sutter

• Researchers in Switzerland and a construction supply company have developed an electric dump truck that can consume less energy than it produces in certain situations.
• The 121-ton "eDumper" was unveiled in April and produces its own energy through regenerative braking on downhill runs. 
• The massive machine then uses that energy to go back up the hill, but since it weighs less with no cargo, it ends up with extra energy. 
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Mining is intense work.

For years, companies have relied on heavy machinery — almost all of which burns gas and diesel — to expose ore, minerals, and other materials from beneath the earth’s surface and turn it into usable components.

One company, Kuhn Schweiz AG, has found a way to do at least part of that work completely emissions-free, together with researchers from the Bern University of Applied Sciences in Bern, Switzerland and the NTB Interstate University of Technology in Buchs, Switzerland.

Enter, the "eDumper" a 121-ton electric dump truck that can consume less energy than it produces in certain situations.

The green machine, in both eco-friendliness and paint scheme, entered service in April in Péry, Switzerland.

Lithium System GmbH

The eDumper began life as a traditional, gas-guzzling dump truck, and the transformation was no small feat. Here’s a human for size comparison.

Andreas Sutter

Fully loaded, it can transport 65 tons of mined rock downhill from the mountain. As it descends, its regenerative braking generates electricity.

Lithium System GmbH

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• Here’s everything we know about ‘Project Titan’ — Tesla’s covert program to replace solar-panel parts that could cause fires
• Porsche just revealed the interior of its all-electric Taycan sports car, and drivers who hate Tesla’s giant touchscreens will love it
• Tesla rivals Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron are struggling to compete — here’s how the cars actually compare to the Model X

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Source: Business Insider – grapier@businessinsider.com (Graham Rapier)