Traditional diesel mining machinery uses internal combustion engines running on fossil fuels to undertake drilling, loading, and hauling processes in underground mines. On the other hand, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) use electric motors alongside rechargeable batteries to operate. As such, BEVs do not need any fossil fuels for energy at all. The process of modernizing and greening the industry involves an evaluation of the economics of replacing conventional diesel machinery with BEVs.
The first major economic effect of the adoption of BEVs is the increased level of Capital Expenditures (CAPEX). The acquisition of battery-operated load-haul-dump machines entails a higher CAPEX cost than acquiring traditional diesel machinery (Freire et al., 2023). Additionally, the shift to using BEVs necessitates the development of a totally new infrastructure within the mine. Mines must establish battery swap stations, power stations, as well as upgrading the electricity grid within the mine.
In spite of the high CAPEX, BEVs bring significant long-term OPEX savings. Electric motors are extremely efficient and have much fewer moving parts in comparison with the internal combustion engines, therefore, the probability of any mechanical failures is greatly decreased. Operators will see considerable savings on maintenance and spare parts over the lifetime of the equipment. Moreover, electrical power is cheaper and more stable than diesel fuel, thus the expenses on energy can be leveled (Brito et al., 2023).
The major saving potential connected with the usage of BEVs in underground mining lies in ventilation and cooling. Diesel engines produce dangerous diesel particulate matter and a lot of heat; thus, expensive ventilation systems are required to keep the air clean. By getting rid of exhaust gases and producing a smaller amount of heat, BEVs minimize the strain on the system. This results in significant energy savings (Hooli & Halim, 2025).
Apart from direct savings, BEVs have a positive effect on productivity, which has an indirect impact on the bottom line. Electric loaders tend to be equipped with better torque and higher acceleration rates, marginally reducing cycle times in ore extraction. Furthermore, the decrease in noise, vibration, and air pollution means that there is a much better working environment. Such working conditions result in a higher level of alertness, reduced absenteeism and improved safety of employees. All of those elements are important for making mining more efficient and profitable (Hooli & Halim, 2025).
To sum up, moving from using diesel-operated equipment to BEVs in underground mining signifies the change from having high operational expenses to making a high initial investment. Even though the cost of capital expenditures on new electric machines and charging stations is high, the financial advantages of doing so cannot be overlooked. Thanks to huge cuts in operational expenses, especially in terms of servicing and ventilating the mine, BEVs are a highly profitable investment.
References
Brito, D., Gómez, R., Carvajal, G., Reyes-Chamorro, L., & Ramírez, G. (2023). Identification of Impact Frequency for Down-the-Hole Drills Using Motor Current Signature Analysis. Applied Sciences, 13, 4650. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13084650
Freire, G., Ramirez, G., Gómez, R., Skrzypkowski, K., & Zagórski, K. (2023). Electro-Mechanical Modeling and Evaluation of Electric Load Haul Dump Based on Field Measurements. Energies, 16, 4399. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16114399
Hooli, J., & Halim, A. (2025). Battery electric vehicles in underground mines: Insights from industry. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 208, 115024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.115024
