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At the Yimin coal mine in Inner Mongolia, a fleet of 100 AI-driven electric trucks has been deployed, marking a significant advancement in mining technology. Developed by China Huaneng and partners, these trucks operate in extreme cold, utilizing 5G-A connectivity and onboard AI.

The project aims to improve safety by removing human operators from hazardous environments, with the trucks achieving productivity levels surpassing human-operated vehicles. The fleet, powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries, includes automated battery-swapping stations to minimize downtime. Despite reduced diesel consumption, the mine continues to extract coal, raising concerns about the long-term impact on decarbonization efforts.