XCMG ultra-class battery loader and dozer for Fortescue: pit power lessons for engineers
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
XCMG has completed two ultra-class battery electric machines for Fortescue, the XC9260BEWL wheel loader and XC9260BEWD wheeled dozer, at its Xuzhou manufacturing base in China. Both units will be shipped to Fortescue’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara, targeting diesel replacement on large load-and-carry and dozing duties. The deployment will test high-capacity battery systems and charging logistics in a remote, high-temperature mining environment, with direct implications for pit power infrastructure and haulage fleet decarbonisation strategies.
Technical Brief
- XCMG’s XC9260BEWL and XC9260BEWD were formally unveiled at a ceremony in Xuzhou, China.
- Sister configuration implies common chassis and drive platform, simplifying spares, training and maintenance planning.
- Battery-electric architecture on both loader and dozer enables shared charging hardware and power management strategies.
- Similar ultra-class BEV platforms could later be adapted to other high-duty earthmoving roles beyond iron ore.
Our Take
In our database, XCMG’s recent shipments of XDE260 diesel-electric haul trucks to the SimFer-operated Simandou iron ore project suggest the company is positioning itself as a full-suite provider of low-emission primary loading and haulage fleets for large iron ore operations, not just a niche equipment supplier.
The Pilbara iron ore context is important: Fortescue Metals’ record shipments and parallel renewables build-out in our recent coverage indicate that battery-electric loaders and dozers are likely to be integrated into a broader site-wide decarbonisation strategy rather than deployed as standalone trials.
XCMG Australia’s net-zero fleet push, highlighted in another recent piece, shows that the Fortescue deployment is part of a coordinated China–Australia technology pipeline from Xuzhou manufacturing to Pilbara operations, which could accelerate localisation of maintenance, charging infrastructure, and operator training for ultra-class battery equipment in Australia.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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