Safety Challenges in Battery Swapping Operations of Electric Underground Mining Trucks

Alberto Martinetti; Ognjen Popovic; Micaela Demichela; Pierpaolo Oreste; Aleksandar Cvjetić; Vladimir  Milisavljević

doi:10.3390/app15126763

Safety Challenges in Battery Swapping Operations of Electric Underground Mining Trucks

Alberto Martinetti^*
, Ognjen Popovic
, Micaela Demichela
, Pierpaolo Oreste
, Aleksandar Cvjetić
, Vladimir Milisavljević

^*Corresponding author for this work

Asset Management & Maintenance Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Recently, the global landscape of public transportation has witnessed a transformative shift towards sustainable and efficient modes of mobility, with particular emphasis on electric vehicles (EVs) and their integration into industrial applications. The mining industry, including the underground mining of the mineral resources sector is following this trend. However, underground mines are critical environments and the adoption of EVs needs to be carefully analysed. This study investigates the associated hazards and risks of adopting EVs (such as dumpers and loaders) focusing on the swapping battery operations. First, current hazards related to battery swapping are identified—21 in total, occurring in 25 instances. After, risks are assessed and associated with specific hazards. Finally, possible measures and solutions for reducing the impacts of these risks on the performance of the EVs are offered.

Original language	English
Article number	6763
Number of pages	16
Journal	Applied Sciences
Volume	15
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126763
Publication status	Published - 16 Jun 2025

Keywords

Underground mines
electric vehicles
safety
Risk analysis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3390/app15126763Licence: CC BY

ArticleFinal published version, 2.07 MBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Safety Challenges in Battery Swapping Operations of Electric Underground Mining Trucks",

abstract = "Recently, the global landscape of public transportation has witnessed a transformative shift towards sustainable and efficient modes of mobility, with particular emphasis on electric vehicles (EVs) and their integration into industrial applications. The mining industry, including the underground mining of the mineral resources sector is following this trend. However, underground mines are critical environments and the adoption of EVs needs to be carefully analysed. This study investigates the associated hazards and risks of adopting EVs (such as dumpers and loaders) focusing on the swapping battery operations. First, current hazards related to battery swapping are identified—21 in total, occurring in 25 instances. After, risks are assessed and associated with specific hazards. Finally, possible measures and solutions for reducing the impacts of these risks on the performance of the EVs are offered.",

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T1 - Safety Challenges in Battery Swapping Operations of Electric Underground Mining Trucks

AU - Martinetti, Alberto

AU - Popovic, Ognjen

AU - Demichela, Micaela

AU - Oreste, Pierpaolo

AU - Cvjetić, Aleksandar

AU - Milisavljević, Vladimir

PY - 2025/6/16

Y1 - 2025/6/16

N2 - Recently, the global landscape of public transportation has witnessed a transformative shift towards sustainable and efficient modes of mobility, with particular emphasis on electric vehicles (EVs) and their integration into industrial applications. The mining industry, including the underground mining of the mineral resources sector is following this trend. However, underground mines are critical environments and the adoption of EVs needs to be carefully analysed. This study investigates the associated hazards and risks of adopting EVs (such as dumpers and loaders) focusing on the swapping battery operations. First, current hazards related to battery swapping are identified—21 in total, occurring in 25 instances. After, risks are assessed and associated with specific hazards. Finally, possible measures and solutions for reducing the impacts of these risks on the performance of the EVs are offered.

AB - Recently, the global landscape of public transportation has witnessed a transformative shift towards sustainable and efficient modes of mobility, with particular emphasis on electric vehicles (EVs) and their integration into industrial applications. The mining industry, including the underground mining of the mineral resources sector is following this trend. However, underground mines are critical environments and the adoption of EVs needs to be carefully analysed. This study investigates the associated hazards and risks of adopting EVs (such as dumpers and loaders) focusing on the swapping battery operations. First, current hazards related to battery swapping are identified—21 in total, occurring in 25 instances. After, risks are assessed and associated with specific hazards. Finally, possible measures and solutions for reducing the impacts of these risks on the performance of the EVs are offered.

KW - Underground mines

KW - electric vehicles

KW - safety

KW - Risk analysis

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DO - 10.3390/app15126763

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VL - 15

JO - Applied Sciences

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ER -

Safety Challenges in Battery Swapping Operations of Electric Underground Mining Trucks

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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