On July 3, 2026, Hitachi Construction Machinery partnered with Exxaro Resources to launch real-world field trials of its hybrid EH4000AC-3 dump truck at the Grootegeluk open-pit mine in South Africa. Designed to accelerate mining decarbonization, the 240-ton haulage vehicle pairs high-capacity battery storage with a diesel power unit to reduce annual fuel consumption by over 10%.
However, field mechanics report that switching between battery-boost modes and sudden diesel restarts subjects engine and hydraulic filtration systems to severe thermal spikes and fluid pressure surges.
