Ampcontrol announced that DRIFTEX, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) built for underground mining applications, has won the NSW Mining HSEC Awards for Health Excellence.
Developed in partnership with ResTech and Solitech, Ampcontrol said DRIFTEX was created in response to an increasing and urgent industry need for low-emission technology and the removal of Diesel Particulate Matte (DPM), a Group 2A carcinogen, from underground applications. Its key advantage is the possibility of replacing diesel-powered vehicles with an alternate power source, which has the potential to significantly improve industry-wide health and environmental outcomes.
Ampcontrol Chief Technology Officer Tim Wylie accepted the award on behalf of the company on 7 August 2023.
“Innovation is in our DNA. We work closely with our customers to see what their needs are and what problems we may be able to help them solve which is how DRIFTEX came into development. At Ampcontrol we’re proud to be part of initiatives that pave the way in advancing the energy sector and helping our mining customers decarbonise. It’s an honour to have the work of our people awarded by NSW Mining,” Ampcontrol Managing Director and CEO Rod Henderson said.
DRIFTEX features a 60kWh intrinsically safe battery management system with a long cycle life of 20,000-30,000 cycles, allowing for about ten years of operation with 80% battery life left, thanks to a collaboration with Solitech, The University of Newcastle, and ResTech. According to Ampcontrol, DRIFTEX is the first commercially available and approved explosion-protected BEV for underground mines.
The BEV fits effortlessly with standard EV chargers and can also be supplied with purpose-built chargers. Its cooling mechanism allows for quick charging, allowing for a full battery charge in 10 minutes when utilising high-powered DC fast chargers.
According to Australian Mining Regulations and Standards, the vehicle is Explosion Protected and has multicolour intrinsically safe headlights. It also has an IoT connection to improve operation, maintenance, and fault detection. DRIFTEX is powered by two 100kW motors with a combined output torque of 1500 Nm.
“The beauty of DRIFTEX can be seen in how it can support the reduction of site environmental emissions, contributing to improvements in the social license of the mine. Through our strong partnerships and advanced technologies, we’re working to revolutionise industry and make global net zero a reality,” Henderson said.
