Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/1190748
D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 www.resourceworld.com 65 MININGWORLD ZERO Automotive launches all-electric utility vehicle by Kathrine Moore ZERO AUTOMOTIVE is an Australian- based company located in Edwardstown, South Australia, ~5 km from the state capital, Adelaide. ZERO Automotive ser- vices the off-road market with a primary focus on the mining industry. The com- pany's founders, Dave Mitchell and Tim Possingham are both experts with decades of experience in the automotive industry. Mitchell has over three decades of experience in the design, development and production of high-performance com- ponentry built to endure motorsport and off-road applications and Possingham is behind some of the most successful and innovative manufacturers operating in the Automotive/Defence and Motorsport spaces. The company states that, "ZERO has sourced electrical and mechanical engi- neers with specialised skills to develop the ZERO product range and capitalise on the exhaustive list of capabilities that ZERO possesses. At ZERO Automotive, state of the art design and manufacturing technol- ogy is combined with robust engineering knowledge and expertise to deliver inno- vative, tough and user-friendly products." The company recently launched the ZED70 (ZERO Emission Drive 70), an all-electric utility vehicle with ZERO emis- sions, making it safe for use underground, in tunnels and other enclosed spaces. According to the company, "The ZED70 vehicle is built on a proven plat- form. Available in Dual Cab, Single Cab, Wagon and Troop Carrier configurations, we replace the diesel engine and gear- box from the standard 70 series Toyota Landcruiser before re-engineering the vehicle for Australian Design Rules com- pliance." The ZED70 has a range of up to 350 km and more torque than the factory turbo diesel V8 that's normally found in the Landcruiser 79 series. As well as being safer for mine per- sonnel, ZERO Automotive states that the ZED70 substantially reduces maintenance costs. The company web site states, "An electric motor contains one moving part, compared to hundreds in a diesel engine. This makes the motor itself almost mainte- nance-free. ZED70 vehicles have single fill options for differential and transfer case, effectively eliminating normal servicing apart from lubrication of steering compo- nents and the checking of wheel bearings." In a The Lead South Australia article Possingham said, "Advances in technol- ogy meant the cost of the vehicle would reduce over time and also allowed ZERO Automotive to customize each EV for the client – such as implementing automatic speed limiting for mining sites, to add value. Advances in battery technology, charging tech and peripheral tech, such as geo fencing, telematics and semi-auton- omous operation, have reached a sweet spot," he said. The South Australian company spe- cifically worked with mining and energy companies to understand their vehicle fleet needs, such as ZERO emissions in under- ground mines and the elimination of diesel fuel on sites. n SOME OTHER FEATURES OF THE ZED70 ZERO Automotive can provide through- life support for the ZED70, including scheduled maintenance of motors and ancillary components, batteries and charging systems. The projected lifespan for the driveline in highway use is in excess of hundreds of thousands of kilometres, while batteries can withstand tens of thousands of discharge cycles. In harsh, corrosive environments, the rugged protective casings, coatings and seals protect the components within, and with regular scheduled cleaning and maintenance can be expected to last for decades depending on the application. The ZED70 comes with regenerative braking, high voltage air conditioning and heating. The all electric utility vehicle, the ZED70 (ZERO Emission Drive 70) is safe for use underground, in tunnels and other enclosed spaces. Photo courtesy of ZERO Automotive.