First Mode and SMS Equipment Target Canadian Deep-Pit Mines for Hybrid Haul Truck Retrofits
According to Equipment Journal, Canadian mining operations are emerging as leading candidates for hybrid haul truck retrofits, with First Mode (a Cummins company) and SMS Equipment actively pursuing fleet owner partnerships across the country. Field service companies working with large mine operators, including those with cross-border Canadian operations, should note that the retrofit channel runs through SMS Equipment and Cummins’ dealer network.
First Mode’s hybrid system targets electric-drive haul trucks in the 200-tonne payload class, installing battery packs ranging from 185 kWh to 1.4 MWh alongside conversion and control modules. Retrofit work is performed on-site and completed within weeks. Two Komatsu 930E-4 trucks operating under the system in Chile have logged roughly 2,100 hours and recorded fuel savings of approximately 15%, against a pre-surge diesel budget of around US$1 million per truck annually. SMS Equipment reports that about 85% of the haul trucks it supports fall into the compatible electric-drive category, suggesting a large addressable fleet in Canada.
For US-based service companies with Canadian mine site exposure, it is worth noting that similar retrofit conversations are beginning in US hard-rock mining regions, where Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) compliance and diesel emissions pressure are creating parallel interest in hybrid alternatives.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Retrofit work is completed on-site in weeks, which could create near-term opportunities for millwrights, electricians, and equipment service crews at Canadian mine sites.
- Fuel savings of around 15% on trucks burning US$1 million or more in diesel annually gives mine operators a strong financial case to move forward, which may accelerate fleet upgrade timelines and the service contracts that follow.
- Field service companies supporting Komatsu haul truck fleets should monitor this space closely. SMS Equipment and Cummins’ dealer network are the primary channels connecting First Mode with fleet owners in Canada and potentially the US.
