Codelco to trial Caterpillar’s power-on-the-move truck tech

Chile state-owned copper miner Codelco said on Thursday it will pilot Caterpillar’s (NYSE: CAT) new Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET) system, which supplies electricity to both diesel-electric and battery-electric large mining trucks while in motion.

The trial will take place at Codelco’s Radomiro Tomic Division in northern Chile using three Cat 798 AC diesel-electric haul trucks. The system, scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2026, is expected to cut emissions by 60%–70% and extend engine life while reducing fuel consumption.

DET works by transmitting electricity through an electrified rail system connected to a power transfer module, which converts energy from the site’s grid to the required voltage. A machine-connection system then feeds the power directly into the truck’s drivetrain. The technology is compatible with both diesel-electric and future battery-electric trucks, Caterpillar said.

“We are steadily advancing toward the mining of the future,” Felipe Lagno, Codelco’s corporate manager of innovation and technology, said in the statement. “We have the opportunity to reduce our environmental impact and extend the useful life of our trucks without compromising productivity,” he said.

One-year trial

The one-year trial will involve installing electrified rails along a ramp in open-pit operations. Cat dealer Finning SA will support the project by handling installation and maintenance.

Marc Cameron, Caterpillar’s senior vice-president, said the collaboration would help refine DET’s design by incorporating customer feedback. 

Finning president Juan Pablo Amar called the project a milestone in advancing sustainable mining practices.

The charging “on the go” initiative forms part of Codelco’s broader roadmap to decarbonize operations by electrifying its fleet and partnering with equipment makers, research centres and universities on low-carbon technologies.