BEIJING, Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EACON Mining Technology's autonomous haulage system is now operating on the AT150, a 136-tonne-payload, cabless and bidirectional battery-electric mining truck. Developed with Inner Mongolia North Hauler Joint Stock Co., Ltd. (NHL) and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), the truck was deployed at an SPIC mine in northern China.

Bringing together SPIC's mining operations expertise, NHL's vehicle design and manufacturing capabilities, and EACON's autonomous driving technology, the AT150 demonstrates how autonomy can influence vehicle architecture and mine workflows when incorporated from the outset.

Unlike conventional mining trucks, the AT150 has no fixed front or rear. It can approach a loading or dumping point in one direction and depart in the other, avoiding the U-turns and switchbacks generally required by front-facing vehicles, and streamlining traffic in constrained areas.

EACON developed the autonomous perception, planning and control capabilities required for either end to become the leading end, with sensor selection and placement tailored to the truck's architecture and bidirectional operation. Using perception data from both directions, the system identifies road boundaries, obstacles and other vehicles before planning paths and stopping positions.

Its path-planning technology can also determine how the truck should approach and leave each location, select alternative dumping positions when an assigned area becomes unavailable, and coordinate multiple vehicles around shared areas.

The AT150's electric drive and all-wheel steering support this operating model. Its semi-solid-state battery is designed for temperatures from –30°C to 50°C, while its 900V system supports charging at up to 3.4 MW. EACON's technology can also consider vehicle charge levels, production tasks, charger availability and fleet demand when allocating work.

"The biggest shift is not removing the driver from the cab, but removing the assumption that mining equipment must be designed around a driver," said Elaine Jin, Chief Growth Officer at EACON Australia. "When autonomy, electrification and vehicle architecture come together from day one, equipment can be designed around the mining task itself, enabling more efficient operations."

About EACON

EACON Mining Technology delivers the world's most deployed autonomous haulage system, with over 3,000 trucks automated and 40 projects across coal, iron ore, copper, gold and zinc. Its OEM-agnostic solution integrates with new and existing fleets, combining 360° perception, distributed architecture and optimised dispatching to enhance safety, efficiency, and decarbonisation. EACON's Australian expansion is supported by its Perth office and deployment with Thiess and Norton Gold Fields.