Siemens and Western Australian partner Murray Engineering have unveiled a new light electric vehicle (eLV) designed and built in Australia.

The vehicle was unveiled at the Austmine 2021 conference taking place in Perth, and follows the announcement of a new underground electric charging station for mines last year.

The eLV, along with Siemens’ underground electric charging stations, will play a role in reducing exposure to diesel fumes and protecting the health of workers at mines.

The announcement comes at a time when miners are looking at electric vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions and protect health through reduced exposure to diesel fumes.

Murray Engineering has the scale and access to test the solution through its parent company the Byrnecut Group, the largest underground mining contractor in Australia.

Byrnecut also owns one of the largest fleets of light vehicles used in mines.

Murray Engineering employs 400 globally specialising in the maintenance, refurbishment, automation, manufacture and assembly of a wide range of mechanical and electrical equipment.

Siemens provided its Sicharge UC high power DC charger for use in the underground charging station.