Scania and LKAB have taken another step in the electrification of heavy mining transport, with a new fully electric 8×4 heavy tipper entering operations at LKAB’s Malmberget mine in northern Sweden.
The vehicle is the first electric Scania truck globally to feature two steerable front axles and has been developed on Scania’s modular electric platform. Designed specifically for heavy-duty mining applications, it is intended to improve load-carrying capability and stability on challenging mine roads while eliminating tailpipe emissions.
Nicknamed “Sleipner”, after the eight-legged horse from Norse mythology, the truck has been built to transport waste rock from a chute loading station to a backfilling site along a five-kilometre route with a 250-metre elevation gain. Fully loaded, the vehicle operates at 60 tonnes, with a payload of 38 tonnes.
Peter Gustavsson, Project Manager for Electrification of Mobile Machines at LKAB, said the deployment marked an important milestone for the company’s decarbonisation efforts.
“If it performs as expected, we will have a fully fossil-free solution for transporting waste rock in truly demanding mining operations,” Gustavsson said.
The electric tipper is powered by two MP20 battery packs with a combined installed capacity of 416 kWh and a 400 kW electric motor. It replaces an equivalent internal combustion vehicle and is designed to demonstrate how battery-electric technology can be applied in high-load, off-road industrial environments.
For LKAB, the potential emissions impact is significant. The company transports more than five million tonnes of waste rock each year at the Malmberget site, meaning any transition away from diesel-powered equipment can deliver meaningful reductions in CO₂ emissions.
Scania’s Head of Pilot Partner, Tony Sandberg, said the project highlights the importance of close collaboration between manufacturers and customers when developing new technology for specialist applications.
“Partnerships like this are essential for learning and accelerating progress,” Sandberg said.
The new 8×4 builds on earlier work between the two organisations. Since 2022, a fully electric Scania 6×4 heavy tipper has been operating at the same mine, providing real-world data and operational experience that has informed the latest vehicle’s development.
Sandberg said each new deployment helps refine Scania’s approach to electrification in extreme environments.
“Each new truck we put into operation helps us and our customers understand how to scale electrification across the toughest environments. This vehicle is just the start of many more mining solutions to come,” he said.
While still early in its operational life, the project offers a practical example of how electric trucks may progressively move beyond urban and regional freight tasks into heavy industrial and mining roles, provided performance, reliability and total cost considerations can be met.
