In a landmark development for industrial electrification, China Huaneng has officially launched the world’s first 5G-A enabled autonomous open-pit mine at Yimin, supported by a fleet of 100 fully electric, cabless mining trucks. This milestone, unveiled during a high-level event in Inner Mongolia, demonstrates how energy storage, AI, and cloud-network integration are transforming mining into a zero-carbon, intelligent ecosystem.
Hosted by China Huaneng and supported by Huawei, XCMG, and State Grid Smart Internet of Vehicles, the launch event was attended by key industry figures including Mr. Liu Feng, Vice President of the China National Coal Association. He highlighted the role of ICT technologies in advancing green and intelligent mining, calling Yimin a model for global replication.
Each Huaneng Ruichi truck operates on a 568 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, replacing diesel entirely and delivering up to 120% operational efficiency compared to manual operations. These batteries are part of an intelligent storage and dispatching system, monitored in real time and autonomously recharged or swapped using AI-based coordination.
At the core of this transformation is Huawei’s CVADCS platform, providing end-to-end automation across the fleet. This is made possible through the “cloud-network-vehicle-charging” model, utilizing 5G-A connectivity with 20 ms latency and 500 Mbps bandwidth for seamless communication, remote control, and predictive scheduling.
More than a technology showcase, Yimin is a breakthrough in how energy storage powers industrial operations. The integration of battery systems, AI, and cloud control shifts storage from a passive backup to an active operational engine.
This project proves that battery-electric fleets can scale in the world’s most demanding environments. It marks a significant step forward in positioning energy storage as a strategic enabler of intelligent, low-carbon industries.
