Fortescue Secures $10 Million AUD to Develop 6 MW Charger
Australian mining giant Fortescue has been granted 10 million Australian dollars by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to develop a prototype for a six-megawatt (MW) fast charger.
The initiative, named the Fast Charger for Heavy Battery Electric Vehicles project, has a total budget of $35.3 million and aims to build, test, and validate several prototype chargers. The goal is to have the first 6 MW charger ready for production by the end of 2025. The project is also focused on ensuring global compatibility by adhering to universal charging standards, making the system suitable for various sectors such as mining, rail, and heavy industries.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller emphasized the importance of reducing emissions in Australia's heavy industries, particularly in mining, where heavy haulage contributes to approximately 25% of the industry's emissions. He stated, "This sector is challenging to decarbonize, so we are funding technologies that will help achieve the reduction goals."
This funding comes from the Australian Government's Industrial Transformation Stream under the Powering the Regions Fund, a $400 million initiative aimed at advancing emissions reduction in regional Australia's industrial facilities.
Fortescue Zero CEO Ellie Coates noted that the new chargers are designed to be rugged, high-power, and scalable, suitable for a variety of vehicle types. Drawing from expertise in motorsports, the chargers are specifically designed for the tough conditions in the Pilbara region. They will feature robotic connection systems capable of rapidly charging Fortescue's future 240-tonne Liebherr T 264 electric trucks in just 30 minutes.
In a similar vein, last month, ARENA allocated $100 million AUD to support electric truck electrification, and earlier this year, 21.8 million AUD was distributed across three electric mobility projects, including the electrification of truck fleets and rental cars. Initially launched in 2021, the funding program aims to drive the installation of fast-charging infrastructure.
Original News Website:
electrive.com, arena.gov.au, fortesque.com
Hot Tags: #megawatt #MW #MW charger #electric truck #charging station