BHP Pauses Electric Haul Truck Plans Over Charging Concerns, Fortescue Counters

BHP, Australia’s largest mining company, is slowing down its move toward giant electric haul trucks, citing worries about charging times as a key obstacle. The hesitation echoes the range and charging anxiety that once kept many car buyers away from EVs.

Rival miner Fortescue argues BHP is missing the point. The company has been pursuing its own electrification path and suggests that focusing only on charging duration overlooks the broader operational and cost advantages of going electric.

The debate highlights a growing question for heavy industry: whether charging infrastructure and downtime can be managed well enough to make electric haulage practical at scale. For now, BHP is holding back while Fortescue pushes ahead with its own vision.