Global sustainability agenda According to Singh, “Road freight transport is the dominant contributor to emissions within South Africa’s transport sector. While road transport accounts for over 90 percent of total transport emissions, heavy-duty trucks alone are responsible for approximately two-thirds of that figure. This highlights the critical role that decarbonizing freight operations can play in achieving national sustainability goals.” The introduction of SANY’s EV solutions into the local market provides a step change to offset a large portion of road freight carbon emissions. At SANY, we are using technology to deliver clean green solutions for a range of industries, including transport, mining and construction.” n
are set to unlock massive savings and achieve ESG goals by going green. Although the initial capex outlay for EVs is slightly higher, customers gain from the lower cost of ownership and a shorter payback period of between 18-24 months in the right application. Game-changing battery swapping technology SANY’s innovative battery-swapping solution, which takes under five minutes to swop out, is a game changer for the transport and logistics segment. Traditional electric trucks rely on plug-in charging to replenish their batteries, taking between one and three hours to recharge. “SANY’s battery swapping technology offers a quantum leap for EV truck operational efficiency and the good news is that the innovation is available in South Africa.” Modern Mining visited SANY’s factory in China to view firsthand the speed of EV battery swapping, which took an impressive four minutes from start to finish. To circumvent Africa’s power challenges, SANY offers clients renewable energy and micro grid solutions – perfect to power battery swapping stations. “The ideal option is to charge EV batteries using the more affordable renewable energy. Several customers have large- scale solar plants installed at their mine sites, which do not feed into the grid. The underutilised solar capacity can be used to power battery swapping stations,” explained Singh. Fast charging battery stations offer massive opportunities, including enhanced efficiency, improved productivity, and hence increased profitability. Looking ahead, the heavy equipment manufacturer will soon be rolling out EV charging infrastructure across the country. To realise its aspirations, SANY recently signed an MoU with Zero Carbon Charge to collaborate in electrifying the N3 and strategic national roads. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks Hydrogen-powered trucks are the ideal solution for long-distance transport. The challenge faced though, is the limited appetite for the novel technology, with products currently manufactured on demand. As it stands, China has a robust hydrogen fuel cell truck adoption rate with hydrogen refuelling stations across the country; for Africa this is a novelty. The equipment manufacturer is currently evaluating customer interest for hydrogen technology. “While SANY has some of the most advanced hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the world, the technology is currently earmarked for niche applications. We have developed a complete turnkey solution, including hydrogen electrolysers that produce, store and refuel hydrogen trucks on-site. The good news is the growing demand for hydrogen fuel cell technology, particularly from the mining space. Several large multinational mining houses share our vision for a sustainable future with strategies aligned to achieving ESG goals. Miners with renewable energy can produce green energy for their hydrogen fuel cell trucks. As it is, we are in the early stages of negotiating with potential customers,” affirmed Singh. Like its EV line-up, SANY has an extensive range of hydrogen fuel cell products including rigid dump trucks, light trucks and concrete mixer trucks, amongst others.
Sany product range SANY has a global presence in over 150 countries and is renowned for its extensive product range targeting various industries like mining, construction and urban delivery.
NOVEMBER2025 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za MODERN MINING 21
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