SANY’s SKT145Ei electric mining truck is already in use in autonomous fleets at open-pit mining sites. Built without a conventional cab or driver’s seat, it uses sensors and electronic systems to handle and operate. SANY presented the truck at a mining summit in Xi’an, China, in May 2026.
The SKT145Ei can carry up to 90 tons and runs on an 801 kWh battery, delivering up to 990 horsepower and 2,300 Nm of torque. Its cabless design lets SANY position sensors and control units without the constraints of a conventional driving layout, removing the steering wheel, pedals and dashboard. Zhang Long, from SANY’s Intelligent Mining Solution team, said that “transforming a traditional truck into an autonomous vehicle presents limitations related to the placement of sensors and controllers.”
Designed for Autonomy
Unlike autonomous trucks adapted from manually operated models, the SKT145Ei was designed from the outset for driverless operation. Its perception system combines LiDAR and millimeter-wave radar with camera data to support driving decisions. The vehicle is intended for repetitive haulage cycles in controlled open-pit mines, where digital maps can cover routes as well as loading and dump locations.
Fleet Coordination and Safety
The SKT145Ei works within a fleet-management system that can coordinate multiple autonomous trucks. SANY’s broader Smart Mining Solution pairs autonomous driving with remote operation. Cloud-based dispatch coordinates truck-excavator and vehicle-road operations, while the system also supports remote control and digital map collection. Vehicles can operate autonomously, with options for human intervention on site or remotely.
The truck’s reported safety equipment includes triple-redundant braking, designed to provide backup mechanisms in the event of selected system failures. Its sensors monitor for obstacles and changes along the route, while remote supervision lets human operators intervene when needed. The trucks are intended for controlled environments such as open-pit mines, where routes are defined and access is restricted. By removing the need for an onboard driver, SANY aims to reduce workers’ exposure to hazards from heavy machinery, as well as dust and vibration.
Electric Power and Efficiency
The 801 kWh battery is designed to support demanding industrial haul cycles. The reported charging system uses liquid cooling and dual connectors for high-power recharging. The truck’s electric propulsion produces no direct tailpipe emissions during operation, and it has fewer moving parts subject to wear than a conventional diesel powertrain. Its operating performance will depend on factors such as charging schedules and maintenance, as well as mine planning and route conditions.
Removing the driver may allow the truck to work for longer periods, but effective uptime also depends on charging and service arrangements. SANY’s broader mining business combines equipment with scheduling systems and long-term service support. The company has also supplied pure-electric unmanned mining trucks with intelligent scheduling to customers in South America.
Deployment and Industry Impact
SANY describes the SKT145Ei as its first fully electric, fully autonomous mining truck. The company says its intelligent-mining solutions are deployed at more than 20 large open-pit mines and manage more than 5,000 intelligent machines. Those figures describe SANY’s broader intelligent-mining portfolio, not the number of SKT145Ei trucks. The vehicle is part of a wider shift toward electrification in the 60-to-100-ton off-road truck segment. SANY’s related SKT90E model is described as a pure-electric mining vehicle with an approximately 60-ton rated payload.
The SKT145Ei combines electrification and automation in a design that removes conventional driver controls. Its cabless architecture reflects a move toward machines built specifically for autonomous work in controlled mine environments, rather than vehicles designed for unrestricted public-road use.
As mining companies adopt electric and automated equipment, demand is also growing for expertise in high-voltage systems and vehicle electromechanics, along with fleet operations. The SKT145Ei shows how heavy-material transport can pair autonomous haulage with digital dispatch and remote oversight, with implications for mine safety and operating efficiency, as well as workforce skills.
