During 2009 and early 2010 Sweden's GIA Industri, in partnership with ABB, is scheduled to deliver six new Kiruna electric trucks to three mines in North America. Two of these, both owned by Vale Inco in Canada, have considerable experience with the Kiruna electric truck hoisting technology; the other—Stillwater in Montana—is a new customer. Produced in Sweden by GIA in collaboration with ABB as regards the electrical engineering, Kiruna electric truck systems are sold, installed and serviced by ABB in Canada. The latest Kiruna trucks operate via a three-phase, 690-v AC overhead trolley line secured to the back of the truck and now incorporate an all-AC electric system with one motor for each axle, providing all-wheel drive. Instead of the battery used on earlier models, a 75-kW Tier 3 diesel engine automatically starts up for off-line duties such as loading, dumping and turning. In passing areas no complicated overhead trolley lines are required; the operator simply drops the power collector, which starts the diesel engine, allowing the oncoming vehicle to pass.
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