World's First Large-Scale Fleet of Autonomous Electric Mining Trucks Transforms Coal Operations at Yimin Mine

In May 2025, China's Huaneng Group marked a global milestone by deploying the world's first fleet of 100 fully autonomous, all-electric mining trucks at the Yimin open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia's Hulunbuir grasslands. Known as the Huaneng Ruichi series and manufactured by XCMG, these cabless vehicles represent a leap forward in smart, zero-carbon mining, combining advanced AI, ultra-reliable 5G-Advanced (5G-A) connectivity, and electric powertrains to redefine heavy-duty operations in one of the harshest environments on Earth.

Overcoming Extreme Conditions with Cutting-Edge Technology

The Yimin mine faces brutal challenges: winter temperatures plunging to -48.5°C, frequent dust storms, dense fog, and muddy terrain that can trap conventional vehicles. Traditional diesel trucks exposed human drivers to constant risks, from visibility blackouts to mechanical failures in sub-zero cold.The Huaneng Ruichi trucks eliminate these dangers entirely. Designed without cabs, each 90-tonne payload hauler relies on sophisticated sensor fusion, including LiDAR, millimeter-wave radars, and high-resolution cameras for 360-degree perception. Advanced AI systems, powered by Huawei's Pangu 5.5 mining models, deliver reliable "vision" up to 40 meters even in total darkness or blinding sandstorms. Specialized anti-sinking algorithms and traction controls keep the trucks moving on soft or uneven ground, while onboard intelligence monitors road conditions in real time, automatically flagging areas needing maintenance.

World's First 5G-A Mining Network...

Yimin became the planet's first open-pit mine fully powered by 5G-A infrastructure, jointly built by Huawei and China Mobile. Using three-component carrier aggregation (3CC), the network delivers 500 Mbps uplink speeds and just 20-millisecond latency across 500–600 meter zones, even in rugged terrain. This enables seamless 8K video streaming, remote oversight, precise fleet coordination, and vehicle-to-cloud synergy for over 100 trucks operating 24/7.

A Decade of Innovation Leading to Scale

The journey began in 2020 with retrofitted diesel prototypes. By 2022, full 5G coverage enabled China's first autonomous open-pit operations. Early trials achieved 87% of human driver efficiency; relentless optimization pushed that to 120% by 2024. A pilot with nine electric trucks successfully moved 1.3 million cubic meters of material, paving the way for the full 100-vehicle fleet in 2025.As of late 2025, the fleet has logged months of stable commercial operations, proving the model's reliability at scale.

Now let's look into Regional Impact: Safety, Sustainability, and Efficiency...

Inner Mongolia, home to over 725 billion tonnes of proven coal reserves and a quarter of China's 2024 output, has embraced intelligent mining. With more than 200 "smart" mines nationwide nearly half in this region, Yimin's massive scale (35 million tonnes annual capacity) made it the ideal proving ground.The benefits extend far beyond technology:

• Safety : Removing humans from hazardous zones virtually eliminates driver-related accidents.

• Environmental gains : The all-electric fleet replaces over 15,000 tonnes of diesel fuel yearly, cutting CO₂ emissions by approximately 48,000 tonnes.

• Efficiency : AI-driven optimization boosts productivity while reducing energy use.

This project sets a new benchmark for global mining, showing how electrification, autonomy, and next-generation connectivity can deliver safer, greener, and more productive operations even for carbon-intensive industries like coal.