Teck – The drive to zero emissions

By Peter Wan, Lead, Technology & Innovation

Electric Busses at our Elk Valley Operations

  • Teck introduced two eLion C Series electric buses for crew transport in 2019, in a 12-month pilot project.
  • The electric bus pilot will help prepare us for the challenges of fleet electrification, and allow us to understand and take full advantage of the many opportunities

Risk assessment

​As we operate electric equipment we will learn ways that EV’s behave differently to our existing ICE fleet that we did not expect.

Quiet operation

  • Will people/animals hear EV’s approaching and clear the road?
  • When should we create noise to announce the presence of the EV?
  • Do we require a wildlife detection system?

First responders

  • What are the risks of MV/HV circuits in the event of an incident?
  • What training is required – and for whom?

Running flat

  • What happens if an EV is stranded with a flat battery?
  • What damage can be caused? How do we move the vehicle?
  • How can we ensure we don’t get into these situations?

Learn by doing

​As we operate electric equipment we will learn ways that EV’s behave differently to our existing ICE fleet that we did not expect.

Regenerative braking

  • Regenerative braking may perform differently if the battery is fully charged
  • Do we require a secondary braking system?
  • Can we manage the maximum charge on the battery based on duty profile?

Icy roads

  • How will EV’s perform on icy roads?
  • Do we need to limit or disable regenerative braking in certain conditions?

Operator performance

  • How do operators learn how to optimize EV performance and battery range?

Workforce Acceptance

  • What are the key levers for workforce acceptance?

 



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