Zijin invests in proprietary battery-electric mining dump trucks Zijin Mining is one of China’s largest producers of gold, copper and zinc. After finding no suitable vehicles on the market that met its requirements, the company decided to establish its own production and assembly line for battery-electric mining dump trucks. By the end of 2025, the first model, the LK220E, had rolled off the production line. Zijin now operates nearly 300 battery-electric dump trucks, which, depending on the configuration, weigh up to 140 tonnes and are equipped with swappable batteries with a capacity of 776 kWh. According to thedriven.io, the first LK220E vehicles were delivered to the Julong copper mine in May. The mine is located at an altitude of around 5,300 metres and is considered a challenging operating environment due to its low temperatures and demanding terrain. Zijin has stated that the vehicles achieved an availability rate of over 90 per cent and reduced energy consumption by more than 17 per cent compared to similar models. The company is also developing additional models, including the larger battery-electric dump truck LK350E and the autonomous electric truck LK110EI. A delivery agreement for the LK350E has already been signed with the Julong copper mine, though Zijin has not yet disclosed the number of vehicles involved. Zijin is also advancing electrification at other sites. For example, the Xinjiang Zijin zinc mine is gradually replacing its diesel fleet with battery-electric vehicles. According to the company, more than 290 electric trucks from various manufacturers are already in operation there, including vehicles from the Chinese manufacturer Lingong Heavy Machinery. These trucks now handle over 80 per cent of the mine’s transport volume, based on company statements. The Xinjiang Zijin zinc mine also operates a so-called ‘Zero Carbon Transport Loop’, powered by electricity from local wind and solar