The expansion of charging infrastructure is changing how underground mines approach electric equipment deployment. Chargers can no longer be treated simply as support equipment installed after vehicles are selected. Their location, electrical capacity and connection to the mine power network can influence equipment movement, operating schedules and the amount of electric equipment that can be supported at a particular level.
The Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) identifies charging arrangements as part of underground battery-electric vehicle planning, alongside mine layout, equipment utilisation, power supply and operational controls. This means mine planners increasingly need to consider the charging system while developing the broader mine design rather than treating it as a separate procurement decision.
Several factors can influence where charging points are positioned:
- Distance between charging areas and active production zones
- Available electrical capacity at different mine levels
- Expected charging demand from the planned fleet
- Space and access requirements for charging equipment
- Future changes in mine development and fleet size
The relationship between charging locations and equipment travel is particularly important underground. A machine that has to leave its operating area and travel a significant distance to recharge can lose productive time, while concentrated charging demand can create queues when several machines require energy at the same time. ABB notes that strategically positioned charging points can reduce unnecessary tramming and should be considered alongside changes to mine design over the operating life of a site.
Distributed Charging Bringing Power Closer to Production
Recent equipment developments show greater attention to distributed charging. In 2026, Epiroc introduced an underground charging system using remote charge posts that can be positioned separately from a central charging cabinet. The company states that the arrangement is intended to bring charging closer to working areas, reduce unnecessary machine movement and distribute available power across multiple charging points.
This approach is significant because underground production areas change as development advances. A fixed charging location that works at one stage of a mine may become less practical as working faces move deeper or production shifts to another level. Charging infrastructure therefore needs to accommodate not only the fleet operating today but also how the mine is expected to develop.
The same principle applies to brownfield and greenfield operations. Existing mines may need to work within established electrical systems and underground layouts, while new mines have more scope to design power distribution and charging locations around electric equipment from the outset. In both cases, charging infrastructure becomes increasingly connected to the physical and electrical design of the mine.
Power Distribution Becoming Part of Charging Strategy
The expansion of charging infrastructure is also changing the electrical planning requirements of underground mines. Battery-electric vehicles can create concentrated periods of electrical demand when several machines charge at the same time. The Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) notes that chargers can behave as near full-load demand while charging and near-zero load when not charging, creating demand peaks that need to be assessed against existing mine electrical infrastructure and protection systems.
This makes power distribution an operational consideration rather than only an engineering requirement. Planning may need to account for:
- Total charging demand from the planned electric fleet
- Available capacity across underground substations and transformers
- Timing of charging sessions during shifts
- Power quality and load balancing
- Additional capacity required as the electric fleet expands
The 2026 study Coordinated Sizing of Battery and Charging Systems for Underground Mining Electric Trucks also models battery capacity and charging-system power together, showing that charging rate, battery size, charging frequency and battery degradation can interact with productivity and mine-life costs.
Distributed Charging Bringing Capacity Closer to Working Areas
Charging location is becoming another important design variable. The GMG guidance outlines dedicated charging stations, shared chargers and centralised arrangements in which multiple charging posts are connected to a common power cabinet. It also recommends that the mine layout and vehicle operating map form the starting point for selecting a charging philosophy.
Recent equipment development illustrates how this approach is evolving. Epiroc’s 2026 underground charging solution allows remote charge posts to be positioned up to 300 metres from a central cabinet and supports dynamic power sharing across up to eight posts. The company says the arrangement is intended to reduce tramming, minimise queues and keep charging closer to active work areas.
For mines that develop progressively over time, this flexibility can become important. Charging infrastructure may need to support changing production levels while leaving room for additional charging points and electrical capacity. The GMG guidance specifically recommends considering future charging locations when laying out mine power cables, including provisions such as junction boxes that can support later expansion.
As a result, charging infrastructure is increasingly being planned as a scalable part of the mine’s electrical and production system rather than as a fixed installation tied only to the initial fleet. This broader integration also creates a connection with changes in underground ventilation requirements.
