BHP and Rio Tinto Complete First Megawatt Charging Test for Cat 793 XE

BHP and Rio Tinto announced on October 28, 2026, that they had successfully completed the first megawatt-level charging test for Caterpillar’s Cat 793 XE battery-electric mining truck. Charging power exceeded 1 MW, providing evidence of the safety and feasibility of charging the large electric haul truck using high-power infrastructure.

The test generated data to support the development of charging standards and the potential deployment of battery-electric trucks at scale in open-pit mines. Its immediate value lies in demonstrating the truck and charging infrastructure operating together under the tested conditions.

For mine operators, the distinction between a successful charging test and sustained fleet operation matters. Power above 1 MW is a relevant milestone, but that figure alone does not establish charging time, truck availability or the number of vehicles a mine could support. Those operational outcomes would depend on how charging performance translates into repeated use and fits within haulage schedules.

The results could also help inform decisions about the relationship between vehicle requirements and charging infrastructure. If subsequent testing demonstrates consistent performance, the findings may provide a stronger basis for planning charging capacity and assessing how electric trucks could be integrated into mine operations.

Further company disclosures on charging duration, repeatability and performance in operating conditions would help clarify the next steps toward wider deployment. For standards development, the key question is how the test data will translate into requirements that support safe, dependable charging across larger fleets.